Solar recycling discussions are heating up in 2025! And Intersolar & Energy Storage North America 2025, February 25-27, is on trend. On Wednesday, February 26 at 10:30 AM, Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) will host a circularity session titled “Closing the Loop: Recycling Solar Panels and Batteries for a Sustainable Future.” This panelist discussion brings together industry thought leaders to address one of the most pressing challenges in renewable energy: the end-of-life (EOL) management of solar panels and batteries.
Session Description
As renewable energy scales up, the need to responsibly recycle solar panels and batteries is more critical than ever. This session will feature insights from leading solar panel recycling companies, exploring innovative technologies, challenges, and opportunities in creating a circular economy for renewable energy materials.
Among the expert panelists are Gurmesh Sidhu, Chief Product Office of Moment Energy, Jesse Simons, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of SolarCycle and Glenn Laga, Co-Founder and President Commercial Solar Panel Recycling (CSPR) and exhibiting in Booth #3608.
Glenn Laga: Balancing Business Acumen with Environmental Stewardship
Glenn Laga exemplifies the intersection of innovation, leadership, and sustainability. As the President and Co-founder of Commercial Solar Panel Recycling (CSPR), Glenn leads efforts to address the growing challenge of solar panel waste. Based in Phillipsburg, New Jersey with a second processing center in Central California, CSPR provides nationwide solutions focused on reuse, repurposing, and recycling, diverting panels from landfills while creating economic opportunities in emerging recycling industries.
“The renewable energy industry has a unique opportunity to lead by example,” Glenn says. “By developing effective recycling and repurposing solutions, we can ensure that the growth of solar and battery technologies doesn’t come at the cost of future generations.”
Before founding CSPR, Glenn established Guardian Data Destruction, a pioneering company that grew into the nation’s largest provider of e-data destruction and data center services. His decades of experience in transformative businesses uniquely position him to tackle renewable energy’s EOL challenges.
The Growing Need for Solar Panel Recycling
As renewable energy expands, managing the lifecycle of solar panels and batteries has become urgent. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), global cumulative solar panel waste could reach 78 million tons by 2050 without proper recycling solutions. Batteries face similar challenges, including toxic chemical leakage and the scarcity of rare earth elements.
Sessions like “Closing the Loop” provide a vital platform for collaboration on sustainable, scalable solutions. Glenn Laga’s participation offers actionable insights into creating a circular economy where waste is minimized, and resources are reused.
The “Closing the Loop” Session: What to Expect
- Innovative Recycling Techniques: Cutting-edge technologies for extracting materials from solar panels and batteries.
- Policy and Regulation: Government and industry standards that promote recycling initiatives.
- Economic Opportunities: How recycling generates revenue while reducing environmental impact.
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Case Studies: Real-world EOL management programs, including insights from Glenn Laga and CSPR.
Join the Conversation
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America’s “Closing the Loop: Recycling Solar Panels and Batteries for a Sustainable Future” session is more than just a panel discussion; it’s a call to action for the renewable energy industry and its full roster of proponents to take responsibility for the paradoxical disposition of PV panels: “More than 90% of discarded solar panels end up in landfills. By 2030 (5 years), the retired panels are estimated to cover an area equivalent to about 3,000 football fields.” 1
Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of:
- The scale and urgency of solar panel and battery waste issues.
- Proven methods for integrating reuse, repurposing, and recycling into their operations.
- Collaborative opportunities to advance sustainability goals across the industry.
Extending the PV Lifecycle
As the renewable energy sector grows, addressing the EOL challenges of photovoltaics is essential. CSPR is paving the way with innovative recycling solutions and a commitment to circularity. Join Glenn Laga and other experts at Intersolar & Energy Storage North America 2025 in San Diego to be part of the solution.
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Source:
1 Source: Tracey, B., Novak, A.. (May 1, 2023). A black eye for green energy? Renewable energy growth brings mounting waste challenge. CBS News