by Elle Nicholson, TXSES
A common concern about solar energy is that the technology is less environmentally friendly than it seems once panels reach the end of their life cycle. With an average lifespan of about 30 years, solar panels are projected to generate up to 80 million tons of waste by 2050—a challenge for landfills without effective recycling solutions. Fortunately, solar panel recycling has emerged as a fast-growing segment of the industry.
While companies are currently experimenting with several different recycling methods, the EPA has identified three core steps nearly all recyclers take. First, they remove the frame and junction box of the panels. Second, they separate the glass and silicon through thermal, mechanical, or chemical processes. Third, they separate and purify the silicon cells and specialty metals for reuse through chemical and electrical techniques. This process allows for many components of panels to be reused.
As with other parts of the solar industry, there are multiple roles for companies to fill within the solar recycling process. Recycling equipment manufacturers mass-produce technologies needed to separate out materials in panels, which recycling service providers then use in the recycling process after collecting end-of-life panels from customers.
There are several important benefits to the recycling of end-of-life solar panels. As mentioned, it prevents panels from entering landfills and polluting the environment, so recycling avoids undermining the environmental benefits of solar technology. The recycling process extracts critical minerals such as silver and copper from the panels, thereby conserving critical minerals. This alleviates concerns surrounding the global supply of such minerals, easing supply chain limitations and protecting valuable finite resources. It also reduces the need for costly, labor-intensive, and often environmentally destructive mining, while simultaneously limiting the energy-intensive processes required to refine the mined minerals. Moreover, material recovery is financially lucrative. The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that by 2030, the value of recoverable raw materials from end-of-life panels globally will be about $450 million, covering the cost of raw materials needed to produce roughly 60 million new panels. Recycling can save the solar industry money that can then be reallocated into the production of new, more environmentally friendly panels.
Given these benefits, it is unsurprising that solar recycling capacity is rapidly expanding. In 2025, the national PV circularity program’s recycling capacity exceeds the volume of decommissioned panels that are entering the waste stream – surpassing the program’s current needs. Capacity is likely to continue increasing over time, as evidenced by market projections of a compound annual growth rate of 22.3%. In American dollars, this would equate to an increase from 2024’s global solar recycling market value of $333.5 million to $2.4 billion by 2034. In 2024, North America contributed a 46.3% share of this market, amounting to a little over $150 million. These statistics indicate a continued increase in both capacity and revenue for solar panel recycling over the next decade.
One example of a solar recycler that has seized the market opportunity is EcoRecycle, a new recycling-focused division of QCells, which is a prominent solar manufacturer. EcoRecycle offers end-to-end solar recycling services and repurposes the materials in its products. QCells has also partnered with Greentech Renewables, a national solar distributor to create community collection hubs in Florida for end-of-life panels. Their collaboration illustrates how solar manufacturers and distributors can expand their offerings to include recycling materials for future projects.
Companies entirely dedicated to recycling have entered the solar landscape as well. SolarCycle is a recycling service provider operating in Texas and offering end-to-end services for its clients, with an explicitly stated focus on compliance with state decommissioning regulations. Notably, the company has its own recycling facility in Odessa, Texas. SolarCycle has achieved impressive results thus far: the company claims to extend panel life 5-10 years before they must be recycled. Their recycling process extracts over 95% of the panel’s value and returns critical minerals to domestic supply chains. Several TXSES members have left testimonials on SolarCycle’s website, highlighting the success of the provider within the Texas solar industry.
In conclusion, solar recycling technologies are ushering in a new era for the solar industry. Recycling can substantially improve panel sustainability while conserving critical mineral supplies and creating a thriving recycling market. Companies are utilizing these opportunities and seeing positive effects, so the solar recycling market is likely to continue on its upward trajectory for the next several years.
Read also about Upcycling Solar Panels in ASES’s latest Solar Today Magazine!
Sources
Customer Success. SolarCycle.
Easily Meet the Solar Panel Recycling Regulations in Texas. SolarPanelRecycling.com.
EcoRecycle by QCells and Greentech Renewables to Partner on Solar Panel Recycling. QCells, 16 October 2025.
Global Solar Panel Recycling Market Size, Share, and Business Benefits. Market.us, March 2025.
How Solar Panel Recycling Is Creating a Truly Renewable Energy Cycle. PedalPoint Lifecycle Solutions.
Marsh, Jacob. “Solar Panel Recycling: How Does It Work?” Energy Sage, 1 March 2023.
Recycling Providers and Equipment Manufacturers. SEIA.
Solar Panel Recycling. United States EPA.
Solar Panel Recycling Services in Texas. SolarCycle.
Vekony, Attila. “Recycling: A Solar Panel’s Life After Death.” Greenmatch, 14 October 2025.