ACEN Australia to Recycle One Million Solar Panels at 400 MW Stubbo Solar Project

ACEN Australia has achieved an Australian first with its 400 MW Stubbo Solar Project in central-west New South Wales, securing independent CPVA Certified certification from the Circular PV Alliance—the world’s first assurance framework dedicated to solar-panel circularity. Nearly one million solar panels from the project are guaranteed to be recycled or reused at end-of-life, earning an “Exceeds” rating for its whole-of-lifecycle approach that treats materials as resources rather than waste. The certification verifies robust planning, procurement, operational, and decommissioning practices, including supply-chain transparency, waste-minimisation strategies, and repair programs. Now generating power and set for full commercial operations by November 2025, Stubbo demonstrates that large-scale solar can be both decarbonising and circular, challenging the industry to move beyond simply replacing fossil fuels with an extractive renewable model. Leaders from ACEN and CPVA emphasise that existing recycling technology needs market signals and incentives—exactly what this milestone provides—to scale solutions for the 100,000+ tonnes of annual solar waste Australia is projected to produce by 2030. By embedding circularity from the outset, Stubbo is helping build the demand and infrastructure required for a truly sustainable solar future.