In the heart of the Atacama desert, where the sun shines more than 300 days a year, an innovation is being prepared that aims to close the cycle of clean energy. The regional company Amffal announced the construction of the first industrial plant in Chile dedicated to the recycling of solar panels.
This step places the country at the forefront of sustainable management of electronic waste, at a key moment: the imminent entry into force of the Extended Producer Responsibility Law (REP Law), which will require companies to take responsibility for the electrical and electronic devices they place on the market. Among them, photovoltaic panels will receive special treatment due to their high presence in the territory and their particular composition.
Amffal, with more than three decades of experience in environmental management, plans to invest three million dollars in the project. The plant will be located on a two-hectare site in the Atacama Region and is expected to begin operations in 2026. With the capacity to process 345,000 solar modules per year, this infrastructure will mark a milestone in the Chilean circular economy.
In addition, the facility will partially operate with solar energy, using panels on its roofs to self-supply part of its electrical consumption. This model of self-sustainability reinforces Amffal’s commitment to energy transition and the reduction of emissions associated with waste treatment.
Recycling the sun: a new stage for clean energy
The rise of solar energy in Chile has left a visible mark. In the last 15 years, the country has multiplied its photovoltaic capacity, becoming one of the regional leaders in renewable generation. However, with the lifespan of panels estimated between 25 and 30 years, the first installed equipment is already approaching its operational end.
This change poses a new environmental challenge: what to do with the thousands of tons of solar panels that will cease to function? The answer lies in recycling. Each photovoltaic module can recover up to 90% of its components, mainly glass (74%) and aluminum (10%), as well as silicon and copper. These materials can be reintegrated into production chains, reducing the extraction of natural resources.
However, the panels also contain traces of heavy metals, such as cadmium, which require specialized treatment. Therefore, Amffal’s plant will incorporate separation and decontamination systems to avoid environmental impacts and ensure safe handling of all waste.
Beyond waste management, solar panel recycling represents a strategic opportunity. It allows the recovery of valuable raw materials, promotes green jobs, and reduces dependency on metal imports. Additionally, it strengthens public confidence in renewable energy, demonstrating that its development can be truly sustainable from start to finish.
Why and for what purpose are solar panels recycled?
Photovoltaic recycling fulfills three fundamental purposes: environmental, economic, and social. Firstly, it prevents tons of glass, plastic, and metals from ending up in landfills or contaminating the soil. Solar modules, being large and long-lasting products, require complex disposal processes; recycling them significantly reduces their ecological impact.
Secondly, this process allows for the recovery of strategic materials. Recycled silicon, aluminum, and copper retain much of their original quality, which decreases the need for new mining extractions and reduces the energy costs associated with producing virgin raw materials.
Finally, recycling fosters the creation of a sustainable industrial chain, generating local employment in solar regions like Atacama, where much of the country’s energy infrastructure is concentrated. It also contributes to technological innovation, driving the development of more efficient machinery and methods for waste recovery.
In the future, the recovery of solar panels could even fuel new production lines of more efficient modules, closing the loop of the solar economy.
A circular management model from Atacama
Amffal, whose headquarters are located in Copiapó, has built its trajectory by combining innovation with territorial commitment. In addition to the photovoltaic plant, the company is advancing in a pyrolysis facility for end-of-life tires, aimed at converting them into fuels and reusable materials. Both initiatives aim to address critical environmental liabilities in Chile and anticipate the goals of the REP Law.
With a processing capacity of 13,800 tons of solar panels annually, the project not only responds to a regulatory need but also consolidates a cultural shift: moving from a discard economy to a regenerative economy.
Once operational, the Atacama plant will be a benchmark in technological waste management and a symbol of Chile’s new energy horizon, where sunlight not only generates electricity but also new opportunities for a cleaner and more circular future.
