South Korean conglomerate Hanwha is entering Japan’s solar panel recycling market, as the country prepares to implement new legislation aimed at fostering a circular economy.
Hanwha Japan, a subsidiary of Hanwha Corporation, announced on April 22 that it will introduce a nationwide service encompassing the entire lifecycle of its solar panels—from collection and inspection to reuse and advanced recycling. By building a broad logistics network across Japan, the company aims to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.
The announcement comes ahead of Japan’s expected rollout of recycling regulations later this year. Hanwha hopes its early entry into the market will position it as a key player as demand for panel disposal and reuse accelerates in the coming decades.
Reusable panels will undergo multiple inspections—including visual checks, insulation testing, I-V curve analysis, and electroluminescence (EL) examination—before being refurbished. These panels will then be resold on the secondhand market or donated to public institutions and schools without solar infrastructure, through Hanwha’s corporate social responsibility initiative, the “Green Alliance.”
Panels deemed unsuitable for reuse will be processed using advanced recycling technologies to recover valuable raw materials for reapplication.
Hanwha Japan plans to utilize Japan’s Wide-area Certification System, a government-recognized program that authorizes manufacturers and retailers to collect and recycle their products across the country. This framework eliminates the need for consumers to find disposal or recycling services themselves, while also helping to prevent illegal dumping.
The move aligns with recent policy changes in Japan, where the government is preparing for an anticipated surge in solar panel waste beginning in the 2030s. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) projects that annual waste could reach between 170,000 and 280,000 tons between 2035 and 2037.
In anticipation of this, Tokyo has already mandated that solar panels be installed on all newly built residential properties starting in April 2025. The policy is part of the city’s broader push to reduce household carbon emissions and achieve climate neutrality. Similar initiatives are gaining momentum in neighboring municipalities and may eventually expand nationwide.
The recycling initiative builds on Hanwha Japan’s “Green Alliance,” a partnership platform launched in June 2023 that promotes joint climate action projects with like-minded companies. These efforts have included solar system donations, support for developing countries, and sponsorship of eco-friendly mobility events.
Hanwha Japan is the only foreign-affiliated company to participate in the recycling subcommittee of the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA), and it is also a member of the Japan PV Reuse and Recycle Association.
Meanwhile, Hanwha Qcells—Hanwha’s solar business arm—is pursuing a separate recycling initiative in South Korea. Earlier this year, it filed a trademark application for “EcoRecycle by Qcells” and signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Zinc to develop a global solar panel recycling and resource recovery system.
Hanwha entered the Japanese market in 2011, initially focusing on panel sales, power generation, and leasing. As of the end of 2024, the company had shipped 7.7 GW of panels and completed installations for 180,000 homes. Formerly a subsidiary of Hanwha Qcells, Hanwha Japan became part of Hanwha Corporation in 2023, prompting a name change from Hanwha Qcells Japan to Hanwha Japan.
With Japan facing a looming solar waste crisis, Hanwha is betting on early action, infrastructure, and sustainability to carve out a leadership role in one of the world’s most advanced renewable energy markets.
