JFE Engineering Corporation
J&T Recycling Corporation

J&T Recycling Corporation (President: Tetsuo Tsuyuguchi, Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, hereinafter "J&T Recycling"), a group company of JFE Engineering Corporation (President: Gen Oshita, Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), has been preparing for solar panel recycling operations in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, since 2020, and today held an opening ceremony for the full-scale launch of its "Solar Panel Recycling Factory."
Since the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) system for renewable energy in 2012, solar power generation has rapidly expanded as a clean energy source. With solar panels having a product life of approximately 25-30 years, a large-scale replacement due to aging is expected in the 2030s. Additionally, proper treatment of panels damaged by increasing natural disasters has become a challenge, and recycling is desired from a resource circulation perspective. To address these challenges, J&T Recycling has accumulated expertise in efficient collection of waste panels, appropriate reuse and recycling methods, and securing routes for effective resource utilization in solar panel recycling.
The factory has an annual processing capacity of 1,440 tons, capable of processing approximately 240 waste panels per day. The treatment process involves separating aluminum frames using sorting equipment, then crushing the panel's glass surface to separate it into sheets and cullet glass, each utilized effectively as resources. The factory can also properly recycle damaged or deformed waste panels that are typically difficult to process. Furthermore, the location is easily accessible, about 15 minutes from the Isesaki IC of the Kita-Kanto Expressway, offering excellent transportation efficiency to meet the rapidly expanding recycling demand for waste panels.
J&T Recycling will contribute to realizing a sustainable society by promoting resource circulation through the reuse and recycling of waste panels.

■Solar Panel Recycling Factory Overview
Location: 358-1 Akabori Kashima-cho, Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture
Factory Site Area: 667 m² (including storage area)
Processing Capacity: 1,440t/year (approximately 240 panels/day)
Treatment Method: Sorting and crushing
Operation Start Date: Scheduled for December 2022

■Opening Ceremony