Most conversations about solar focus on growth, installation, and deployment. Far fewer address the reality on the other end of the lifecycle: what happens to millions of solar panels once they’re damaged, decommissioned, or reach the end of their usable life.

In this episode, host Wes Ashworth sits down with Dr Janette Freeman, Vice President of Business Development at Fabtech Solar Solutions, one of the few companies in the United States specializing in solar panel recycling, refurbishment, and reuse. Blending decades of leadership experience with a background in consciousness studies, Dr. Freeman brings a rare combination of technical clarity, industry insight, and human-centered perspective to one of clean energy’s most misunderstood challenges.

Together, they break down the true scale of solar waste, why perceptions don’t match reality, and how the recycling landscape is evolving far faster than most people realize. Dr. Freeman also explains the economics behind recycling, why the reuse market is reawakening, and how developers, EPCs, and asset owners can plan ahead to protect both budgets and brand reputation.

Beyond the operational side, this episode explores the mindset required to lead in a rapidly changing renewable energy ecosystem. Dr. Freeman shares how resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence have shaped her approach to navigating the solar coaster and helping steer an emerging industry toward circularity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why solar panel waste is dramatically smaller than often portrayed
• The biggest misconceptions that still slow down recycling adoption
• What 75 percent of today’s recycling volumes reveal about industry growth
• How companies decide between refurbishing, reselling, or fully recycling modules
• The economics behind recycling and why costs are dropping
• How risk, compliance, and reputation increasingly influence end-of-life decisions
• Why landfill access is tightening and how that accelerates circular solutions
• How the recycling market has rapidly expanded from only a handful of providers
• What the next decade looks like as the first major wave of utility-scale projects retires
• The leadership mindset needed to stay steady in a volatile, high-growth sector

Dr. Freeman’s mission is simple: keep solar modules out of landfills and in the circular economy. Her work demonstrates how technical innovation, practical problem-solving, and grounded leadership can move an entire industry forward.

If you work in solar development, EPC, asset management, recycling, sustainability, or energy policy, this episode delivers essential clarity on one of the most important and misunderstood components of the clean energy transition.

Tune in to learn how the recycling revolution is taking shape and why mindset matters just as much as machinery.

Links: 

Dr. Janette Freeman on LinkedIn

Fabtech Solar Solutions' Website

Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/

• Email: [email protected]
• https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/
• https://leegroupsearch.com/