Comstock Metals LLC solar panel recovery facility receives certifications

Comstock Metals LLC, Silver Springs, Nevada, has been certified to R2V3 Appendix G – PV Modules and RIOS (Recycling Industry Operating Standard) certifications. The company uses proprietary delamination methods to recycle photovoltaic (PV) panels, producing commodity-ready products, including glass and aluminum.

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"Our company is dedicated to environmental sustainability and has achieved high-standard certifications,” says Fortunato Villamagna, president at Comstock Metals LLC. “We have developed a closed-loop model where entire panels are processed into market-ready products. I am very proud of what we have achieved.”

Appendix G was added to R2V3 in January 2024. Only recently were accredited auditors available for the added standard, Comstock says. 

"Solar panel recycling is a win-win-win—good for consumers, the economy and our planet,” says Evelyn Butler, vice president of technical services at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Washington.

Comstock Metals LLC started its solar panel pilot processing facility over a year ago, with a capacity of more than 5,000 tons per year. The company says it serves customers from Hawaii to Canada, accepting all types of solar panels at its recycling center from sources that include breakage, maintenance, construction, operation, replacement or reenergizing.

The company also provides on-site decommissioning and transportation logistics.