Market Research ReportJun 19, 2023

Solar Panel Recycling Market

Solar Panel Recycling Market Research Report: Size, Share, Trend Analysis By Type (Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, Thin Film), By Process (Thermal, Mechanical, Laser) and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) - Growth Outlook & Industry Forecast To 2030

Vertical: EnPBase Year: 202111 Sections

Book Demo

Executive Summary

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Snapshot

Market Size (2021)
$163.40M
Projected (2030)
$461.20M
CAGR (2018–2030)
10.1%
Key Players
16+

Global solar panel recycling market is expected to grow at 12.5% CAGR during the forecast period, 2022-2030.

The solar panel recycling market is being driven by several factors, including the increasing use of solar energy, the growing demand for sustainable solutions, and the need to reduce waste and environmental pollution. Governments around the world are also promoting the use of renewable energy sources, which is driving the growth of the solar panel recycling market. One of the key opportunities in the solar panel recycling market is the increasing demand for recycled solar panels, which are being used in new installations. Recycled solar panels are also being used in the manufacture of new solar panels, reducing the need for new raw materials and lowering costs.

However, there are also some restraints that may impact the growth of the solar panel recycling market. One of the main restraints is the lack of standardization in the recycling process, which can lead to variations in the quality of recycled solar panels. This can impact the overall demand for recycled solar panels. In addition, the high cost of solar panel recycling technology and the limited availability of recycling facilities can also impact the growth of the solar panel recycling market. Companies may need to invest in new technology and infrastructure to expand their operations and meet the growing demand for recycled solar panels.

Despite these restraints, the solar panel recycling market is expected to grow in the coming years due to the increasing demand for sustainable solutions and the need to reduce waste and environmental pollution. Governments and organizations around the world are also promoting the use of renewable energy sources, which is driving the growth of the solar panel recycling market.

Key Insight

The Solar Panel Recycling Market market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2018 to 2030.

Market Performance Trend

Historical performance and future projections (2020–2030, USD Billion)

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Market Scope & Coverage

What this report covers

Geographic Coverage: This analysis covers 5 regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa.
Market Segmentation: The market is analyzed across 3 segments: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, Thin Film. Forecasts are provided for each segment from 2018 to 2030.
Competitive Landscape: 16 leading companies are profiled, covering market positioning, strategies, and recent developments.

Market Size (USD Mn)

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Market Overview

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Growth Trajectory

Solar panel recycling refers to recycling of recyclable arts of solar panels including crystalline silicon, electric junction bixes, aluminum frames and brackets, and glass and plastics.

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Growth Trajectory

Monocrystalline

Polycrystalline

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Market Size Trend (USD Mn)

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Market Dimensions

How this market is segmented

By Type is broken down into: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, Thin Film.
By Process is broken down into: Thermal, Mechanical, Laser.

Geographic Analysis

Regional market breakdown

North America market size reached $29.40M in 2018 and is projected to reach $96.10M by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.4%.
Europe market size reached $64.40M in 2018 and is projected to reach $175.70M by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.7%.

Asia Pacific market size reached $40.20M in 2018 and is projected to reach $150.30M by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.6%.
South America market size reached $7.30M in 2018 and is projected to reach $23.70M by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.3%.
Middle East and Africa market size reached $4.80M in 2018 and is projected to reach $15.30M by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.1%.

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Research Methodology

Solar Panel Recycling Market — How We Researched This Market

This report applies a rigorous multi-stage research process combining primary interviews, secondary data sources, and bottom-up market modelling to ensure accuracy and completeness across all segments and geographies.

Base Year
2021
Historical Period
2018 – 2020
Forecast Period
2022 – 2030
Primary Interviews
150+

Research Process

Historical data (2018–2021) and forecast period (2021–2030)

Problem Definition

Market scoping
Objective setting
Framework design

Secondary Research

Literature review
Data mining
Trend analysis

Primary Research

Expert interviews
Field visits
Surveys

Data Analysis

Quantitative modeling
Statistical testing
Validation

Insights & Reporting

Synthesis
Recommendations
Visualization

Research Depth

Our research process spans primary interviews with industry stakeholders combined with comprehensive secondary data analysis, validated through triangulation across multiple independent sources.

Historical vs. Forecast Data

Historical (observed)

Forecast (modelled)

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Competitive Landscape & Porter's Five Forces

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Competitive Analysis

Many global, regional, and local vendors characterize the solar panel recycling market. The market is highly competitive, with all the players competing to gain market share. Intense competition, rapid advances in technology, frequent changes in government policies, and environmental regulations are key factors that confront market growth. The vendors compete based on cost, product quality, reliability, and government regulations. Vendors must provide cost-efficient, high-quality solar panel recycling products to survive and succeed in an intensely competitive market.

The market vendors’ growth depends on market conditions, government support, and industry development. Thus, the vendors should focus on expanding geographically and improving services. Yingli Energy Co, Silcontel, Reclaim PV Recycling, Zorlu Holding, First Solar, Canadian Solar Inc, Rinovasol Group, Reiling GmbH & Co, Recycle PV Solar, LLC, Solon, We Recycle Solar, Cleanlites Recycling, Reclaim PV Recycling, Morgen Industries, Inc.,Silcontel Ltd, and Recycle Solar Technologies Limited are the major companies in the market which compete in terms of availability, quality, price, and technology. They primarily focus on the development of solar panel recycling products. Although international players dominate the market, regional and foreign players with small market shares also have a presence. The international players may strengthen their presence worldwide through acquisitions during the forecast period. It has also been forecast that improvement of the global economic scenario, combined with efforts to enhance infrastructure in emerging nations, is fueling the market growth, thereby making it an ideal time to launch new products of solar panel recycling and increase the global market share.

Bargaining Power of Suppliers

The suppliers in the solar panel recycling market are primarily the providers of raw materials and components. The suppliers have a high concentration, which decreases their bargaining power. The differentiation within the raw materials and components is low, but manufacturers tend to enter into associations with the suppliers to ensure consistency in quality and uninterrupted supply. This leads to the moderate cost of switching between suppliers. Therefore, the bargaining power of suppliers in the market is expected to be moderate.

Bargaining Power of Buyers

The concentration of buyers of solar panel recycling is high, leading to a decrease in their bargaining power. Furthermore, the impact of brand identity in the global solar panel recycling market is moderate. The cost of switching between providers is low due to the low differentiation between the products and services, which increases the bargaining power of the buyers. Thus, the bargaining power of buyers in the global solar panel recycling market is expected to be moderate.

Threat of New Entrants

The players intending to enter the market are required to have permission from the regulating bodies as solar panel recycling are manufactured considering the quality parameters and standards. Furthermore, the new entrants need to invest high capital in setting up manufacturing units or warehouses. They need to develop new technologies or special features to offer distinguished products and solutions in the market. Therefore, the threat of new entrants in the market is expected to be low.

Threat of Substitutes

There are no close substitutes for solar panel recycling. So, the market players do not face much threat from substitutes, making the threat of substitutes moderate.

Intensity of Rivalry

The intensity of rivalry, among the players, in the solar panel recycling market is high. These players in the market are investing substantially in the global solar panel recycling market. Such factors are expected to make the intensity of rivalry in the global solar panel recycling market moderate to high.

Quantitative Analysis

Regional Breakdown

Regional market breakdown for Solar Panel Recycling Market.

Regional Market Size (USD Mn)

Market estimates by geography (2030)

North America$0.10B

Europe$0.18B

Asia Pacific$0.15B

South America$0.02B

Middle East and Africa$0.02B

USD Mn

InsightEurope leads with $175.70M by 2030, while Asia Pacific is projected to grow fastest at a 11.6% CAGR.

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Regional Market Data

REGION	2018	2021	2030	CAGR	SHARE
North America	$29.40M	$44.80M	$96.10M	10.4%	21%
Europe	$64.40M	$90.00M	$175.70M	8.7%	38%
Asia Pacific	$40.20M	$65.80M	$150.30M	11.6%	33%
South America	$7.30M	$11.10M	$23.70M	10.3%	5%
Middle East and Africa	$4.80M	$7.30M	$15.30M	10.1%	3%
Total	$146.10M	$219.00M	$461.10M	10.1%	100%

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Segment Revenue (2030)

Monocrystalline

Polycrystalline

Thin Film

00.250.50.751

Monocrystalline48%
Polycrystalline30%
Thin Film22%

Total Market Size

$461.20M

Market by Segment (2030)

APPLICATION	REVENUE ($B)	GROWTH RATE	MARKET PENETRATION
Monocrystalline	$222.00M	9.3%	48%
Polycrystalline	$137.70M	9.0%	30%
Thin Film	$101.30M	14.1%	22%

* Revenue projections based on 2025 estimates. Growth rates represent CAGR 2024–2030. Market penetration indicates current adoption rate within addressable market segments.

Subscribe to Wantstats

Unlock premium reports, insights, blogs, charts and more.

View Subscription Plans

Empower your Business
with Insights

Save over 20% on
Annual Subscription

Subscribe now

Book a demo

See plans for professionals or small and medium businesses.

Analytics

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Key Findings

Analytical insights on Solar Panel Recycling Market covering market dynamics, competitive landscape, and strategic outlook.

Key Analytical Findings

The Solar Panel Recycling Market market is projected to reach $461.20M by 2030, growing at 10.1% CAGR. The Monocrystalline segment holds the largest share.

Market Dynamics

The global solar panel recycling market is projected to register a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period. The solar panel recycling market is driven by various factors such as increasing volume of decommissioned PV panels and huge Untapped potential recycle increasing volumes which support the market growth during the forecast period. However, expensive energy storage is expected to hamper the market growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, increasing investment in renewable energy sources are anticipated to offer various lucrative opportunities for the market players during the forecast period.

Market Drivers

As the solar energy industry continues to grow, the number of decommissioned photovoltaic (PV) panels is also increasing. These panels have a limited lifespan of around 25-30 years, after which they need to be replaced. For instance, in June 2016, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released a report that estimated the amount of waste PV panels could reach 78 million tonnes by 2050. This report highlights the urgent need for effective recycling strategies to address the growing volume of decommissioned PV panels and reduce their environmental impact. This is driving the demand for the solar panel recycling market. Recycling of PV panels involves the recovery of valuable materials such as silicon, glass, and metals like aluminium and copper, which can be reused to manufacture new solar panels or other products. The recycling process also prevents the accumulation of electronic waste and reduces the environmental impact of solar panel disposal.

Several countries have already implemented regulations that require the recycling of PV panels such as U.S. solar panel recycling program and many more are expected to follow suit. This has created opportunities for companies to enter the solar panel recycling market and develop innovative recycling technologies. As the volume of decommissioned PV panels continues to grow, the demand for solar panel recycling is expected to increase even further.

Market Opportunities

The global push for renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, has been accelerating in recent years as countries seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a more sustainable energy system. This increasing investment in renewable energy sources provides significant opportunities for the growth of the solar panel recycling market. Furthermore, primary benefits of renewable energy sources is that they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to global warming and climate change. The growth in renewable energy sources has been driven by a combination of technological advancements, falling costs, and government policies that encourage the use of clean energy. For instance, in July 2021, European Union announced that it will invest €122 billion in the development of renewable energy infrastructure as part of its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

As more countries invest in renewable energy sources, the volume of decommissioned PV panels is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Recycling these panels will help to reduce the environmental impact of solar energy systems and promote a more circular economy. In addition, there is significant opportunity for innovation and technological advancements in the PV panel recycling market. As demand for recycling services grows, companies will have an incentive to develop new and more efficient recycling methods to recover valuable materials from decommissioned PV panels.

Market Restraints

Main benefit of solar energy is that it can be generated during the day when demand for electricity is typically high. However, without an energy storage system, excess solar energy generated during the day is typically lost. The cost of energy storage systems, such as batteries, can add significant expenses to a solar energy system and may discourage some consumers from investing in solar energy. If fewer consumers invest in solar energy due to the cost of energy storage, this may result in fewer decommissioned PV panels in the future, potentially reducing the demand for PV panel recycling services.

However, it is worth noting that energy storage costs have been declining in recent years and are expected to continue to do so. As energy storage becomes more affordable, it may become more widespread and encourage more consumers to invest in solar energy, which would increase the volume of decommissioned PV panels and drive demand for recycling services. Furthermore, the environmental benefits of solar energy and PV panel recycling, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing electronic waste, are also important factors that may drive demand for PV panel recycling services, even if energy storage costs are still relatively high. Thus, while expensive energy storage may potentially restrain demand for the solar panel recycling market, there are several factors to consider, including declining energy storage costs and the environmental benefits of PV panel recycling.

Strategic Outlook and Future Directions

Near-term growth will likely concentrate in modular bioreactor lines and closed-system media workflows that shorten validation cycles while preserving batch traceability.

Partnerships between CDMOs and instrumentation vendors should accelerate standard datasets for comparability across sites, improving forecasting models used in capacity planning.

Longer horizon, organoid and microphysiological adoption may reshape segment mix; teams that invest early in assay interoperability and cloud QC hooks are better positioned to capture upside without fragmenting their analytics stack.

Market Value by Segment (2030)

Value (USD Mn)

Monocrystalline

Polycrystalline

Thin Film

Companies

Key companies profiled in Solar Panel Recycling Market

Profiles of 110 companies operating in the Solar Panel Recycling Market market, including revenue, employee count, and market positioning where available.

Region

Industry

Founded Year

Showing 110 of 110 companies

First Sola

First Solar

Energy & Power

Company Headquarters: United States Founded: 1999 Workforce: The company has employed more than 4800 employees. Company Working: First Solar is a leading US-based manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and a provider of solar solutions. With a focus on utility-scale solar power plants and commercial, industrial, and residential applications, the company is known for its thin-film solar panel technology. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, First Solar is committed to delivering sustainable and cost-effective solar energy solutions to its customers worldwide.

Recycle Solar Technologies Limited

Energy & Power

Company Headquarters: United Kingdom Founded: 2017 Workforce: The company has employed more than 40-50 employees. Company Working: Recycle Solar Technologies Limited is a UK-based company that specializes in the recycling of solar panels. With a focus on sustainability and circular economy principles, the company has developed a unique process for the recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life solar panels. Recycle Solar Technologies Limited serves a global customer base and is at the forefront of the emerging field of solar panel recycling.

Cleanlites Recycling

Company Headquarters: United States Founded: 2018 Workforce: The company has employed more than 20 employees. Company Working: Cleanlites Recycling is a US-based company that provides a range of recycling and waste management services, including the recycling of solar panels. With a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, the company has developed a unique process for the recovery of materials from end-of-life solar panels. Cleanlites Recycling has a nationwide presence and serves a diverse range of industries.

Company Headquarters: Germany Founded: 1997 Workforce: The company has employed more than 600 employees. Company Working: Solon is a German company that specializes in the design and installation of solar power plants. Founded in 1997 and based in Berlin, the company has a global presence and a strong focus on sustainable and innovative solar energy solutions. Solon has completed numerous large-scale solar energy projects around the world and has been recognized for its contribution to the development of the solar industry.

Reiling GmbH & Co

Company Headquarters: Germany Founded: 1972 Workforce: The company has employed more than 600 employees. Company Working: Reiling GmbH & Co is a German company that provides a range of recycling and waste management services. Founded in 1972, the company is committed to sustainable and responsible waste management practices. Reiling GmbH & Co has developed a unique process for the recycling of solar panels and other electronic waste, which allows for the recovery of valuable materials and reduces the environmental impact of waste disposal.

Rinovasol Group

Company Headquarters: Germany Founded: 2017 Workforce: The company has employed more than 50 employees. Company Working: Rinovasol Group is a leading provider of solar panel recycling solutions. Based in Germany, the company specializes in the recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life solar panels. With a focus on sustainability and circular economy principles, Rinovasol Group is at the forefront of the emerging field of solar panel recycling.

Page 1 of 19

…

Go to page

Charts

12 interactive charts drawn from the Solar Panel Recycling Market dataset — market size, regional splits and each segment breakdown. Open one to read its full data table and download it.

Pro

Energy & UtilitiesAug 13, 2026

Solar Panel Recycling By Process

Pro

Energy & UtilitiesAug 13, 2026

Solar Panel Recycling By TYPE

Pro

Energy & UtilitiesAug 13, 2026

Solar Panel Recycling Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa and Rest Of Middle East And Africa

Pro

Energy & UtilitiesAug 13, 2026

Solar Panel Recycling Brazil, Argentina and Rest Of South America

Pro

Energy & UtilitiesAug 13, 2026

Solar Panel Recycling China, Japan, India, South Korea and Rest Of Asia Pacific By Country

Pro

Energy & UtilitiesAug 13, 2026

Solar Panel Recycling Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Russian Federation and Rest Of Europe By Country

Browse All Charts

About the Author

Renewable Energy Research Team

Energy & Power · Renewable Energy

This report comes from Wantstats' energy team — analysts who spend their days tracking utility filings, generation capacity, and grid investment plans across markets most research glosses over. Every number here has been checked against our own databases and validated through conversations with people actually running these projects. This report specifically covers the Renewable Energy space within that portfolio.

Similar Reports

View all

Energy & PowerJul 30, 2026

Slovenia LPG(Liquified Petroleum Market) Market

Energy & PowerJul 30, 2026

Satellite Solar Panels Array Market

Energy & PowerJul 30, 2026

Northeastern US & Eastern Canada Turbines Market

Powering the world's best teams.
From next-gen startups to established enterprises.

What our clients say

Trusted by forward-thinking businesses
for data-driven intelligence

Noah Malgeri

Co-Founder, Mojave Rail Fabrication Limited

This is really good guys. Excellent work on a tight deadline. I will continue to use you going forward and recommend you to others. Nice job.

Michael Robert

Manager, JavolVision

Thanks, I am so happy that we worked together. Maybe we still can work together in the future.

Joseph Aguayo

Sales Operations & Pricing Manager, Intel

Thanks. It's been a pleasure working with you, please use me as reference with any other Intel employees.

Bong Lau

Sales Leader, Bamberg

We bought your "2025 report" in 2020. Everything is fine and very good.

Peter Groot Koerkamp

Account and Business Manager, EFS-Holland BV

Thanks for sending the report it gives us a good global view of the Betaïne market.

Younghwan Choi

Senior Retail Manager, LG Chem

We found the report very insightful! we found your research firm very helpful. I'm sending this email to secure our future business.

Mark Irwin

Management Consultant, Level 21

I am very pleased with how market segments have been defined in a relevant way for my purposes (such as "Portable Freezers & refrigerators" and "last-mile"). In general the report is well structured. Thanks very much for your efforts.

Rob Kooiker

Group Product Manager HVAC & Fire Protection GMA, Rockwool

I have been reading the first document or the study, the Global HVAC and FP market report 2021 till 2026. Must say, good info! I have not gone in depth at all parts, but got a good indication of the data inside!

Jason Lee

R&D Director, Seojin

Thanks for your great support. Appreciate it. Well received report. It helps us to understand market well. We're planning other area of survey in the future, let's keep in touch.

Akif Moroglu

Strategy & Business Development Director, Dogan Holding

We got the report in time, we really thank you for your support in this process. I also thank to all of your team as they did a great job.

Noah Malgeri

Co-Founder, Mojave Rail Fabrication Limited

This is really good guys. Excellent work on a tight deadline. I will continue to use you going forward and recommend you to others. Nice job.

Michael Robert

Manager, JavolVision

Thanks, I am so happy that we worked together. Maybe we still can work together in the future.

Joseph Aguayo

Sales Operations & Pricing Manager, Intel

Thanks. It's been a pleasure working with you, please use me as reference with any other Intel employees.

Bong Lau

Sales Leader, Bamberg

We bought your "2025 report" in 2020. Everything is fine and very good.

Peter Groot Koerkamp

Account and Business Manager, EFS-Holland BV

Thanks for sending the report it gives us a good global view of the Betaïne market.

Younghwan Choi

Senior Retail Manager, LG Chem

We found the report very insightful! we found your research firm very helpful. I'm sending this email to secure our future business.

Mark Irwin

Management Consultant, Level 21

I am very pleased with how market segments have been defined in a relevant way for my purposes (such as "Portable Freezers & refrigerators" and "last-mile"). In general the report is well structured. Thanks very much for your efforts.

Rob Kooiker

Group Product Manager HVAC & Fire Protection GMA, Rockwool

I have been reading the first document or the study, the Global HVAC and FP market report 2021 till 2026. Must say, good info! I have not gone in depth at all parts, but got a good indication of the data inside!

Jason Lee

R&D Director, Seojin

Thanks for your great support. Appreciate it. Well received report. It helps us to understand market well. We're planning other area of survey in the future, let's keep in touch.

Akif Moroglu

Strategy & Business Development Director, Dogan Holding

We got the report in time, we really thank you for your support in this process. I also thank to all of your team as they did a great job.

Solar Panel Recycling Market

Solar Panel Recycling Market Research Report: Size, Share, Trend Analysis By Type (Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, Thin Film), By Process (Thermal, Mechanical, Laser) and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) - Growth Outlook & Industry Forecast To 2030

Starting from

$4,950

Solar Panel Recycling Market

Key Insight

Market Performance Trend

Market Scope & Coverage

What this report covers

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Growth Trajectory

Market Size Trend (USD Mn)

Market Dimensions

How this market is segmented

Geographic Analysis

Regional market breakdown

Problem Definition

Secondary Research

Primary Research

Data Analysis

Insights & Reporting

Research Depth

Historical vs. Forecast Data

Competitive Landscape & Porter's Five Forces

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Competitive Analysis

Regional Market Data

Segment Revenue (2030)

Segment Market Share

Market by Segment (2030)

Save over 20% onAnnual Subscription

Key Analytical Findings

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Market Opportunities

Market Restraints

Strategic Outlook and Future Directions

Market Value by Segment (2030)

About the Author

Renewable Energy Research Team

Market Performance Trend

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Growth Trajectory

Market Size Trend (USD Mn)

Market Dimensions

How this market is segmented

Geographic Analysis

Regional market breakdown

Problem Definition

Secondary Research

Primary Research

Data Analysis

Insights & Reporting

Research Depth

Historical vs. Forecast Data

Competitive Landscape & Porter's Five Forces

Solar Panel Recycling Market — Competitive Analysis

Regional Market Data

Segment Revenue (2030)

Segment Market Share

Market by Segment (2030)

Save over 20% onAnnual Subscription

Key Analytical Findings

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Market Opportunities

Market Restraints

Strategic Outlook and Future Directions

Market Value by Segment (2030)

About the Author

Renewable Energy Research Team

Save over 20% on
Annual Subscription

Save over 20% on
Annual Subscription