Europe's First Solar Panel Recycling Plant Opens in France

Across the UK, a growing number of solar panels installed over two decades ago are nearing the end of their operational lifespan, prompting their removal from rooftops. Historically, these decommissioned panels were often sent to general glass recycling facilities. While this approach recovers some valuable materials like glass and aluminum, much of the panel components—such as silicon, copper, and plastics—are either wasted or burned in cement kilns.

That's changing now.

Europe's First Solar Panel Recycling Plant

This year, Europe’s very first solar-panel recycling plant opened its doors in France. The facility has already secured a contract to recycle approximately 1,300 metric tons of solar panels in 2018. By 2022, the ambitious goal is to ramp that figure up to 4,000 metric tons annually, thanks to collaboration with the solar recycling organization, PV Recycle France.

French water-and-waste management giant Veolia is leading the charge on this groundbreaking initiative. As they explain, the growing volume of aging photovoltaic (PV) panels being taken off roofs has made the need for a specialized recycling plant undeniable. This is not just about environmental responsibility—it's also about maximizing resource efficiency.

Inside the Recycling Process

Veolia’s state-of-the-art technology will dismantle these panels meticulously, recovering every material required to produce new ones. Think glass, silicon, copper, silver, and even plastics. Their vision extends far beyond France; they hope to establish dedicated solar-panel recycling as a global norm across the industry.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), this move couldn’t come at a better time. IRENA predicts that by 2020, recovered PV materials could be worth around $450 million (£343 million). Fast forward to 2050, and the value could skyrocket to over $15 billion (£11 billion). Clearly, investing in recycling infrastructure isn't just good for the planet—it's good business too.

A Brighter Future

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