France’s Solar Panel Collection Climbs 40% as Recycling Sector Faces a Capacity Test

France collected 13,760 tonnes of end-of-life solar panels last year, a 40% increase over the prior year, according to Soren, the organisation responsible for managing photovoltaic equipment through its lifecycle in the country.

Of the more than 12,700 tonnes that were processed, roughly 10,600 tonnes completed a full material recovery cycle, returning glass, aluminium and copper to the economy. A further 1,298 tonnes went to energy recovery and 754 tonnes to final disposal — placing the overall material recovery rate above 90%. Soren’s operating budget for the period exceeded €15 million, with the bulk covering logistics and processing at partner facilities.

The figures mark a turning point: panel recycling is moving from policy discussion to routine industrial operations, driven by a growing wave of installations reaching end of life. Projected annual waste volumes are expected to reach 180,000 tonnes by 2040, while demand for silver, silicon and copper could rise four to six times over the same period — a trajectory that makes recycling a strategic imperative for the European market.

The industry’s central challenge is infrastructure capacity. Exponential growth in retired modules requires substantial expansion of processing facilities; without building out a deeper recycling network in France, the market risks being unable to manage projected waste volumes by 2040.

Source: PV Magazine