Solar Panel Recycling Market Size & Share, by Type (Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline, Thin Film), Process (Thermal, Mechanical, Laser), Shelf Life (Normal Loss, Early Loss), End-user (Manufacturers, Government Authorities) - Global Supply & Demand Analysis, Growth Forecasts, Statistics Report 2025-2037

  • Report ID: 1481
  • Published Date: Nov 08, 2024
  • Report Format: PDF, PPT

Global Market Size, Forecast, and Trend Highlights Over 2025-2037

Solar Panel Recycling Market size was valued at USD 1.87 billion in 2024 and is set to exceed USD 118.54 billion by 2037, expanding at over 37.6% CAGR during the forecast period i.e., between 2025-2037. In the year 2025, the industry size of solar panel recycling is estimated at USD 2.43 billion.

The reason behind the growth is impelled by the increasing utilization of solar power globally. Small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most popular type of solar installation and are typically installed on rooftops.

Moreover, large-scale solar PV and solar energy projects can contribute to a decrease in the usage of fossil fuels and can aid in lowering the overall energy bill. These factors are expected to significantly drive market growth. According to estimates, solar energy accounted for more than 4% of all energy consumed globally in 2021.

The growing technological advancements are believed to fuel the market growth. For instance, Researchers at Arizona State University are developing a novel recycling method that effectively removes silicon and silver from solar panels using chemicals. Similarly, several novel recycling techniques are being tested by the U.S. recycling startup TG Companies and researchers in Australia.


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Solar Panel Recycling Sector: Growth Drivers and Challenges

Growth Drivers

  • Increasing Environmental Concerns – After a projected 30-year lifespan, solar panels are predicted to produce a significant amount of garbage, which is predicted to increase environmental issues all over the world.It is projected that by 2050, 78 million tonnes of PV panel trash will have been generated worldwide.
  • Government Initiatives – Several legislation and regulations, including the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, have established practical methods for managing waste from solar panels. Such policies are proposed by the governing bodies of many nations to support ecologically beneficial initiatives and encourage green energy projects. Government support in the form of service provider tax breaks and subsidies is another important factor fueling the market.

 Challenges

  • Expensive Recycling Process – Separating the materials such as glass, metals, and other rare elements from solar panels requires specialized equipment, which can be expensive to maintain. Besides this, the recycling process also requires skilled labor which is expensive to acquire.Although solar cells use clean energy and do not release any air pollution, certain toxic substances are used during the manufacturing process that affect the environment. Moreover, after the life cycle of solar cells they leave behind toxic residues which need to be recycled.
  • Lack of Infrastructure
  • Lack of Awareness

Solar Panel Recycling Market: Key Insights

Base Year

2024

Forecast Year

2025-2037

CAGR

37.6%

Base Year Market Size (2024)

USD 1.87 billion

Forecast Year Market Size (2037)

USD 118.54 billion

Regional Scope

  • North America (U.S., and Canada)
  • Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)
  • Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)
  • Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, NORDIC, Rest of Europe)
  • Middle East and Africa (Israel, GCC North Africa, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East and Africa)

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Solar Panel Recycling Segmentation

Type (Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline, Thin Film)

The monocrystalline & polycrystalline segment is estimated to hold 65% share of the global solar panel recycling market in the coming years as they are the most space-efficient and require the least amount of space when compared to their competitors. Solar panels made from monocrystalline materials have a longer life and are usually lasting well beyond the expiry of their warranty. These factors are bolstering the monocrystalline segment.

Process (Thermal, Mechanical, Laser)

The thermal segment is set to garner a notable share shortly impelled by the benefits of thermal processes for recycling solar panels, which recover over 80% of their weight and also recycle up to 98% of interfering cells based on module conditions or cell thickness. Moreover, the thermal approach of recycling PV modules is preferable to the chemical method since it employs heat and chemical processes to delaminate solar panels and separate their chemical components. Furthermore, the market is expected to be driven by a growing solar panel industry over the forecast period.

Our in-depth analysis of the global market includes the following segments:

          Type

  • Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline
  • Thin Film

         Process

  • Thermal
  • Mechanical
  • Laser

       Shelf Life

  • Normal Loss
  • Early Loss

      End-Users

  • Manufacturers
  • Government Authorities

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Solar Panel Recycling Industry - Regional Synopsis

APAC Market Forecast

Solar panel recycling market in Asia Pacific is predicted to account for the largest share of 38% by 2037 impelled by the presence of major producers of solar power. India, China, and Japan are some of the major solar power-producing countries in the region. As a result, more solar panels are expected to be installed in the region which would lead to huge demand for solar panel recycling.For instance, India is currently one of the top 10 nations producing solar energy, and the third-largest solar energy producer in India is the southwest state of Karnataka.

North America Market Statistics

The North America solar panel recycling market is estimated to be the second largest, during the forecast timeframe led by presence of government policies for sponsoring clean energy technologies and shifting tendencies towards renewable energy sources. This has led to higher adoption of solar power in the region, leading to an increase in demand for solar panel recycling.

Research Nester
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Companies Dominating the Solar Panel Recycling Landscape

    • First Solar Inc.
      • Company Overview
      • Business Strategy
      • Key Product Offerings
      • Financial Performance
      • Key Performance Indicators
      • Risk Analysis
      • Recent Development
      • Regional Presence
      • SWOT Analysis
    • SOLARCYCLE Inc.
    • Reiling GmbH & Co. KG
    • Rinovasol Group
    • ENVARIS GmbH
    • Silrec Corporation

In the News

  • First Solar Inc. and Capital Power Corporation declared that Capital Power has received its first order for roughly 1 GWDC of ultra-low carbon thin film solar modules that have been ethically produced. The Series 6 Plus modules will help Capital Power's expanding development portfolio and will be supplied between 2026 and 2028.
     
  • The AES Corporation has established a pilot program to evaluate construction breakage and end-of-life solar panel waste across the firm's portfolio and inked a Recycling Services Agreement with SOLARCYCLE, a tech-driven recycling services company. In accordance with the contract, AES may ship broken or outdated solar panels to SOLARCYCLE's cutting-edge, high-recovery recycling facility in Odessa, Texas, for ethical recycling and reuse.

Author Credits:  Dhruv Bhatia


  • Report ID: 1481
  • Published Date: Nov 08, 2024
  • Report Format: PDF, PPT

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In the year 2025, the industry size of solar panel recycling is estimated at USD 2.43 billion.

The solar panel recycling market size was valued at USD 1.87 billion in 2024 and is set to exceed USD 118.54 billion by 2037, expanding at over 37.6% CAGR during the forecast period i.e., between 2025-2037. Increasing environmental concerns, government initiatives and increasing utilization of solar power globally will boost the market growth.

Asia Pacific industry is likely to hold largest revenue share of 38% by 2037, impelled by presence of major producers of solar power. India, China, and Japan are some of the major solar power-producing countries in the region.

The major players in the market include First Solar Inc., SOLARCYCLE Inc., Reiling GmbH & Co. KG, Rinovasol Group, ENVARIS GmbH, Silrec Corporation
Solar Panel Recycling Market Report Scope
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