Vietnam and Japan Launch Solar Panel Recycling Plant

A new recycling facility in Ho Chi Minh City will give thousands of old solar panels a second life, marking a breakthrough moment for sustainable energy in Southeast Asia.

Vietnamese company IREX Energy and Japan's Hamada have partnered to launch the region's first dedicated solar panel recycling plant. The facility will process 40,000 solar modules each year, recovering valuable glass, aluminum, silicon, and metals that can return to manufacturing supply chains.

The timing couldn't be better. Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in solar power with over 19 gigawatts of installed capacity after explosive growth over the past decade. Now those early solar farms are approaching their 20 to 25 year lifespan, creating a new challenge: what to do with panels that have faithfully generated clean energy for two decades.

IREX Energy brings local solar expertise as part of the SolarBK Group, while Hamada contributes proven recycling technology from Japan's advanced waste management sector. Together, they're building infrastructure before the problem becomes overwhelming.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership shows how countries can learn from each other's futures. Japan already faces mounting solar waste with a recycling market worth 30 million euros, expected to hit 40 million euros by 2030. By acting now, Vietnam can handle its challenges more smoothly.

Vietnam's solar recycling market currently sits at just 0.7 million euros but is forecast to triple to 2.3 million euros by 2033. That growth mirrors the country's ambitious solar expansion, which aims to reach 37.6 gigawatts of capacity by 2031 through utility projects, rooftop installations, and hybrid storage systems.

The facility represents more than waste management. It's proof that renewable energy can truly be renewable, closing the loop from production to end-of-life recovery. Materials reclaimed from retired panels will help build the next generation of solar equipment.

Regional authorities are already approving new solar developments scheduled to begin operation in 2028, ensuring Vietnam's clean energy momentum continues. Now those projects will have a responsible pathway for panels when their productive lives eventually end.

One solution creating another: that's progress worth celebrating.