First Solar Implements Closed-Loop Solar Module Recycling at Tamil Nadu Facility
Chennai, October 15, 2026: First Solar has implemented a closed-loop recycling initiative at its manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, designed to recover solar photovoltaic module materials and advance circular manufacturing, according to a press release issued by the company.
The project, titled Solar Module Recycling with Closed-Loop Semiconductor Recovery: Enabling Circular Domestic PV Manufacturing, integrates high-value recycling directly into routine manufacturing operations. Moving beyond conventional bulk recycling methods, the process recovers semiconductor materials for productive reuse in new solar modules while diverting waste from landfills.
As of fiscal year 2026, the facility has diverted approximately 13,100 metric tonnes of photovoltaic waste from landfills and achieved a material recovery rate of roughly 95 percent. The Sriperumbudur recycling unit operates with a designed annual processing capacity of 21,900 metric tonnes.
The recycling operational model involves controlled shredding, material separation, film removal, and metals precipitation. Recovered glass is channeled to glass manufacturing industries, while semiconductor materials are recovered for downstream separation, refining, and integration into new module production. The process is supported by environmental, health, and safety controls, quality monitoring, and cross-functional tracking across manufacturing and environmental management teams.
N Muthusezhiyan, Executive Director – Green Manufacturing at CII Green Business Centre, said, “First Solar’s achievement demonstrates how circularity can be integrated into manufacturing operations to deliver measurable environmental benefits while retaining the value of critical materials. By recovering and reusing semiconductor materials from solar PV modules, the company has established a compelling model for closed-loop recycling that reduces landfill waste and dependence on virgin resources. Such industry-led innovations are vital to advancing resource efficiency, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities and building a more sustainable solar value chain in India.”
By embedding recycling as a standardized operational capability supported by documented procedures and governance, the initiative offers a scalable framework for responsible module recycling and supply chain sustainability across the broader solar photovoltaic sector.
