Visionary Leaders
They measure the business empire from the commanding heights of the era.
Hu Chao
“Give every retired PV module a new life”
Hu Chao, co-founder and CMO of Reverse Energy Solutions (RES), is an entrepreneur in the photovoltaic recycling and circular economy sector. Born in Guangzhou, he holds a master's degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of California, Irvine. In 2026, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 North America list in Energy & Green Tech.
Hu Chao
Asian Cover Figure | Hu Chao: A Young Entrepreneur on the PV Recycling Track
Asian "Cover Figure" Magazine · New Business Leaders
As the global energy transition accelerates, the sustainable development of the photovoltaic industry has become a critical issue. The recycling of end-of-life PV modules is emerging as a new track with both environmental value and commercial potential. Hu Chao, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Reverse Energy Solutions (RES), is one of the representative young entrepreneurs in this field.
I. Background and Entrepreneurial Experience
Born in Guangzhou, Hu Chao graduated from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) with a master's degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Before founding RES, he participated in the operations of multiple business projects, including consumer brand Gift Advisor and cross-border consulting, accumulating extensive entrepreneurial and market development experience. Additionally, Hu Chao founded the Leadership Entrepreneurs Alliance (LEA) and serves as its chairman.
In 2026, Hu Chao was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 North America list in the Energy & Green Tech category, becoming a young entrepreneur drawing industry attention in the PV recycling field. (Source: Forbes 30 Under 30, 2026)
II. RES: Focused on PV Module Recycling and Resource Recovery
Reverse Energy Solutions (RES) is a clean technology company based in Los Angeles, specializing in the recycling and resource recovery of end-of-life photovoltaic modules. The company developed patented "Mobile PV Module Recycling Factory" technology that disassembles decommissioned solar panels directly at client sites, recovering high-value materials including glass, silicon, aluminum, silver, and copper, with a recovery efficiency of approximately 90% and a material reuse rate of about 85%. (Source: resolartech.com official website)
As co-founder and CMO, Hu Chao oversees brand strategy and market development, driving partnerships between RES and global energy companies and waste management organizations. RES has received support from notable incubators including LACI (Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator), Techstars Alabama Power EnergyTech, and Greentown Labs. The company generates approximately $4 million in annual revenue with cumulative funding of approximately $9.18 million. (Source: resolartech.com official website)
III. Entrepreneurial Philosophy and Industry Insight
Hu Chao believes that PV recycling is a key link in achieving sustainable development of the renewable energy industry. Industry projections estimate that by 2030, global retired PV modules will exceed 8 million tons. RES's mobile recycling factory technology aims to reduce transportation costs and improve processing efficiency, providing a viable commercial solution for large-scale recycling of end-of-life PV modules.
In business management, Hu Chao emphasizes the combination of technological innovation and commercial efficiency. He believes that in fields like new energy and circular economy, which have both technical barriers and scaling requirements, startups need to advance on both technology and business model fronts simultaneously. RES's mobile PV recycling factory embodies this approach — reducing transportation and processing costs through technological innovation while improving recycling efficiency through business model innovation.
IV. Looking Forward: Deepening Efforts on the PV Recycling Track
As the global PV industry enters a large-scale decommissioning phase, PV recycling is poised for rapid growth. Hu Chao and his team are committed to bringing RES's technology solutions to more countries and regions, contributing to the green closed-loop of the renewable energy industry.
Sources
[1] RES official website resolartech.com
[2] China Daily Net, 2026-02-13
[3] Forbes 30 Under 30 North America 2026 — Energy & Green Tech
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