GERMANY SOLAR PANEL RECYCLING MARKET FORECAST 2023-2030

The nation is poised to become one of the largest markets for solar PV recycling technologies in the upcoming years. This shift is attributed to the incorporation of the revised EU Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) Directive into German law in October 2015, achieved through an amendment to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act. Consequently, new mandates governing the collection and recycling of solar PV panels have been in effect in Germany since that year.

By 2030, it is anticipated that the country will generate between 0.4 to 1 million metric tons of solar PV module waste, with this figure projected to rise to approximately 4.3 million metric tons by 2050. A pivotal aspect of the WEEE Directive involves financing collection, recovery, and recycling, especially in light of the substantial installed capacity in Germany, which is intended for recycling. The German government envisions two distinct mechanisms in compliance with the WEEE Directive, contingent on the nature of the transaction, namely, Business-to-Customer (B2C) transactions and Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions. Subsequently, these factors are predicted to boost the Germany solar panel recycling market growth during the forecasted period. 

The Germany solar panel recycling market is segmented into type, process, and shelf life. The shelf life segment includes early loss and normal loss. The early loss of solar panels encompasses infant, mid-life, and wear-out failures occurring before reaching the average lifespan. Such early losses result from factors including damage during transit or installation, as well as exposure to severe weather conditions. While solar panels typically have a lifespan of 25-30 years, some panels may reach the end of their useful life prematurely. Consequently, installations dating back to the 2000s and 2010s are already being decommissioned. 

The early loss of solar panels can be attributed to several factors, including degradation or premature weathering stemming from maintenance issues, a lack of product standardization, and adverse weather conditions. Notably, early losses hold a significant market share, as solar panels with various defects are more likely candidates for recyclability in comparison to panels in the regular loss category, which reach the end of their operational life at their own pace.

Major players operating in the Germany solar panel recycling market include Canadian Solar Inc, Yingli Energy Co, Trina Solar, etc.

First Solar, headquartered in the United States, manufactures, designs, and sells photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. With manufacturing facilities in the United States, Malaysia, and Vietnam, the company’s customers include commercial and industrial firms, utilities, as well as independent power producers. Furthermore, the company has been recycling solar panels since the year 2005 and has also developed a proprietary recycling process that recovers over 90% of the materials in a solar panel.