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Solar Panel Recycling: Global Market

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    Report

  • 146 Pages
  • August 2023
  • Region: Global
  • BCC Research
  • ID: 5867882

This report is a detailed analysis of the global solar panel recycling industry. It examines process categories, key drivers, emerging trends and major players in each category and provides market estimates. The report also analyses the companies and regions and highlights and elaborates on the influence of government regulations, current technology and economic factors in this marketplace. It also provides the facts, figures and statistics required to evaluate stable market aspects and the industry’s current trends and projections. The report also focuses on market analyses through different viewpoints such as ESG (Economical, social and governance) analysis, patent analysis, and emerging trends.

The global solar panel recycling industry scope is as follows:

  • By Process (Chemical, Thermal and Laser)
  • By Technology (Silicon-based (c-Si), Thin-film and Other)
  • By Shelf-life (Regular Loss and Early Loss)

All market data are expressed in current U.S. dollars.

Report Includes

  • 21 data tables and 63 additional tables
  • A comprehensive overview and an up-to-date analysis of the global solar panel recycling market
  • Analyses of the global market trends, with market revenue (sales figures) for 2022, estimates for 2023, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2028
  • Discussion of the market growth drivers, opportunities and restraints in the solar panel recycling industry, along with the regulatory dynamics, manufacturing trends, upcoming technologies, and future trends & innovations
  • Estimation of the actual market size and revenue forecast for global solar panel recycling market in USD million values, and corresponding market share analysis based on the process, technology, shelf life, and region
  • Review of the industry supply chain analysis for solar panel recycling market providing a systematic study of key intermediaries involved, with emphasis on manufacturers, suppliers, and major type of end users of these products
  • A look at the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in solar panel recycling industry and recent ESG specific developments in global market
  • Review of the key patent grants and recent patent applications on solar panel recycling, with emphasis on emerging technologies and new developments within the marketplace
  • Updated information on recent merger and acquisition (M&A) activities, venture fundings, and other impactful growth strategies in the global solar panel recycling market
  • Identification of the key players operating in the market, and analysis of their competitive landscape based on recent developments, segmental revenues, and operational integration
  • Company profiles of major players within the industry, including Aurubis AG, First Solar, Trina Solar, Reclaim PV Recycling, and Veolia Environnement S.A.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
  • Study Goals and Objectives
  • Reasons for Doing this Study
  • Scope of Report
  • Methodology
  • Information Sources
  • Geographic Breakdown
Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights
  • Market Outlook
  • Market Summary
Chapter 3 Market Overview
  • Market Definition
  • Solar Pv Industry
  • Solar Irradiance
  • Energy Demand
  • Value Chain Overview
  • Parent Market Overview - Global E-Waste Market
  • History
  • Recycling Process
  • Regulatory Framework
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Other Regulations
Chapter 4 Market Dynamics
  • Drivers
  • Government Policies for the Safe Disposal of Solar Panels
  • Rising Environmental Concerns
  • Resource Recovery and Economic Incentives
  • Increasing Installation of Solar Panels
  • Challenges
  • Cost-Effectiveness
  • Availability of Inexpensive Alternatives
  • Limited Recycling Infrastructure
  • Technological Advancements in Solar Panels
  • Opportunities
  • Partnership Between Manufacturers and Recycling Companies
  • Recycling Standards and Certifications
  • Growth of Downstream Industries
  • Green Products
Chapter 5 Market Breakdown by Process
  • Introduction
  • Chemical Process
  • Thermal Process
  • Laser Process
Chapter 6 Market Breakdown by Technology
  • Introduction
  • Silicon-Based Technology
  • Thin-Film Technology
  • Other Technologies
Chapter 7 Market Breakdown by Shelf Life
  • Introduction
  • Regular Loss
  • Early Loss
  • Chapter 8 Market Breakdown by Region
  • Introduction
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Rest of the World
Chapter 9 Sustainability in the Solar Panel Recycling Industry: An Esg Perspective
  • Importance of Esg in the Solar Panel Recycling Industry
  • Esg Ratings and Metrics: Understanding the Data
  • Esg Practices in the Solar Panel Recycling Industry
  • Current Status of Esg in the Market for Solar Panel Recycling
  • Esg Score Analysis
  • Risk Scale, Exposure Scale and Management Scale
  • Case Study: Example of Successful Esg Implementation
  • Environmental Initiatives:
  • Social Initiatives:
  • Governance Initiatives:
  • Outcomes:
  • Investments:
  • Future of Esg: Emerging Trends and Opportunities
  • Concluding Remarks
Chapter 10 Emerging Technologies and Development
  • Key Highlights
  • Megatrend
  • Circular Economy Practices
  • Green Products
  • Emerging Technologies in the Market
  • Hot Blade Delamination Process
  • Nano-Silicon
  • Sequential Electrowinning
  • New Technology Developments
Chapter 11 Patent Analysis
  • Significance of Patents
  • Importance of Patent Analysis
  • Patent Analysis Based on Country of Origin
  • Patent Analysis Based on Year Issued
  • Patent Analysis Based on Patents Issued to Different Companies
Chapter 12 M&A and Funding Outlook
  • M&A Analysis
  • Startups Fundings in Solar Panel Recycling
Chapter 13 Competitive Intelligence
  • Industry Structure
  • Market for Solar Panel Recycling Structure
Chapter 14 Company Profiles
  • Aerisoul Metal & Energy Corp. S.R.O.
  • Aurubis AG
  • Cascade Eco Minerals LLC
  • First Solar
  • Nth Cycle Inc.
  • Reclaim Pv Recycling
  • Rosi Solar
  • Solarcycle Inc.
  • The Retrofit Companies Inc.
  • Trina Solar Co. Ltd.
  • Veolia Environnement S.A.
  • We Recycle Solar, Inc.
  • Other Players
Chapter 15 Appendix: Acronyms
List of Tables
Summary Table: Global Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Technology, Through 2028
Table 1: Average Global Horizontal Irradiance and Photovoltaic Power Output, in 2020
Table 2: Share of Population with Access to Electricity, 2021
Table 3: Solar Capacity Target, by Top Countries
Table 4: Solar Module Composition and Waste Classification
Table 5: Overview of Recycling Process for Silicon Solar Modules
Table 6: Overview of Recycling Process for Thin-Film
Table 7: List of Organizations Related to Solar Panel Recycling
Table 8: Cumulative Installed Capacity, by Country, 2022
Table 9: Solar Panel Installations, 2011-2022
Table 10: List of Solar Panel Recycling Plants, 2018-2023*
Table 11: Partnerships in Industry, 2021-2023*
Table 12: Energy Payback Estimates for Rooftop PV Systems
Table 13: Global Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Process, Through 2028
Table 14: Global Market for Chemical Process in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 15: Global Market for Thermal Process in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 16: Global Market for Laser Process in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 17: Weight of Materials in Solar Panels and their Recovery Rate
Table 18: Global Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Technology, Through 2028
Table 19: Component Share in Crystalline Silicon (c-Si) PV panels, by Weight, 2020 Vs. 2030
Table 20: Global Market for Silicon-based (c-Si) Technology in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 21: Crystalline Silicon Vs. Thin-film
Table 22: Global Market for Thin-film Technology in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 23: Global Market for Other Technologies in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 24: Failure Rate of Solar Panels Annually, by Stage
Table 25: Degradation Rate of Solar Panels, by Tier
Table 26: Global Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Shelf Life, Through 2028
Table 27: Global Market for Regular Loss Shelf Life in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 28: Early loss Solar Panel Scenario
Table 29: Global Market for Early Loss Shelf Life in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 30: Global Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, Through 2028
Table 31: North American Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Country, Through 2028
Table 32: European Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Country, Through 2028
Table 33: APAC Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Country, Through 2028
Table 34: ROW Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Country, Through 2028
Table 35: ESG Ratings and Metrics
Table 36: ESG Diversity Issue Analysis
Table 37: ESG Employee Safety and Labor Practices Issue Analysis
Table 38: ESG Resource Efficiency and Emissions Issue Analysis
Table 39: ESG Waste Reduction Issue Analysis
Table 40: ESG Sustainable Supply Chain Analysis
Table 41: ESG Ethical Corporate Behavior Analysis
Table 42: Score Card of ESG Scores of Companies
Table 43: Risk Scale, Exposure Scale and Management Scale
Table 44: Energy Payback Estimates for Rooftop PV Systems
Table 45: New Technology Developments, 2023
Table 46: Patents Related to Solar Panel Recycling Based on Country of Origin, Jan 2018-May 2023
Table 47: Patents Related to Solar Panel Recycling Based on Year Issued, Jan 2018-May 2023
Table 48: Patents Related to Solar Panel Recycling, by Company, Jan 2018-May 2023
Table 49: List of Patents in Solar Panel Recycling, Jan 2018-May 2023
Table 50: M&A, January 2020-June 2023
Table 51: Startup Fundings in Solar Panel Recycling, January 2022-June 2023
Table 52: Company Market Share, in 2022
Table 53: Aerisoul Metal & Energy Corp.: News, 2020
Table 54: Aerisoul Metal & Energy Corp.: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 55: Aurubis AG: Annual Revenue, 2022
Table 56: Aurubis AG: News, 2022
Table 57: Aurubis AG: ESG Ratings
Table 58: Aurubis AG: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 59: Cascade Eco Minerals LLC: News, 2021
Table 60: Cascade Eco Minerals LLC: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 61: First Solar: Annual Revenue, 2022
Table 62: First Solar: ESG Ratings
Table 63: First Solar: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 64: Nth Cycle Inc.: News, 2023
Table 65: Nth Cycle Inc.: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 66: Reclaim PV Recycling: News, 2022
Table 67: Reclaim PV Recycling: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 68: ROSI Solar: News, 2023
Table 69: ROSI Solar: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 70: SOLARCYCLE Inc.: News, 2023
Table 71: SOLARCYCLE Inc.: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 72: The Retrofit Companies Inc.: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 73: Trina Solar: Annual Revenue, 2022
Table 74: Trina Solar: ESG Ratings
Table 75: Trina Solar: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 76: Veolia Environnement S.A.: Annual Revenue, 2022
Table 77: Veolia Environnement S.A.: News, 2021
Table 78: Veolia Environnement S.A.: ESG Ratings
Table 79: Veolia Environnement S.A.: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 80: We Recycle Solar: News, 2023
Table 81: We Recyle Solar: Solar Panel Recycling Product/Service Portfolio
Table 82: Other Players in the Market
Table 83: Acronyms Used in This Report

List of Figures
Summary Figure: Global Market for Solar Panel Recycling, by Technology, 2022-2028
Figure 1: Solar PV Industry Value Chain
Figure 2: Solar Panel Components
Figure 3: Main Stages of PV Recycling
Figure 4: Solar Panel Recycling Process
Figure 5: Regulatory Framework for PV Recycling, by Top Countries in PV Installations
Figure 6: Share of Raw Materials in a Solar Panel, by Value, 2022
Figure 7: Share of Raw Materials in a Solar Panel, by Mass, 2022
Figure 8: Cost Comparison of Solar Panel End-life Management
Figure 9: Global Market Shares of Solar Panel Recycling, by Process, 2022
Figure 10: Chemical Treatment Process of Solar Panel Recycling
Figure 11: Global Market Shares of Chemical Process in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 12: Thermal Treatment Process of Solar Panel Recycling
Figure 13: Global Market Shares of Thermal Process in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 14: Global Market Shares of Laser Process in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 15: Global Market Shares of Solar Panel Recycling, by Technology, 2022
Figure 16: Global Market Shares of Silicon-based (c-Si) Technology in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 17: Global Market Shares of Thin-film Technology in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 18: Global Market Shares of Other Technologies in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 19: Global Market Shares of Solar Panel Recycling, by Shelf Life, 2022
Figure 20: Global Market Shares of Regular Loss Shelf Life in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 21: Global Market Shares of Early Loss Shelf Life in Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 22: Total Solar PV Installed Capacity, by Top Countries, 2022
Figure 23: Evolution of Annual PV Installations, 2012-2022
Figure 24: Global Market Shares of Solar Panel Recycling, by Region, 2022
Figure 25: North American Market Shares of Solar Panel Recycling, by Country, 2022
Figure 26: European Market Shares of Solar Panel Recycling, by Country, 2022
Figure 27: APAC Market Shares of Solar Panel Recycling, by Country, 2022
Figure 28: ROW Market Shares of Solar Panel Recycling, by Country, 2022
Figure 29: Overview of ESG Factors
Figure 30: Environmental Scores of Major Companies
Figure 31: Social Score of Major Companies
Figure 32: Governance Score of Major Companies
Figure 33: Total Score of Major Companies
Figure 34: Circular PV Economy Model
Figure 35: Emerging Technologies in the Market for Solar Panel Recycling
Figure 36: Startup Fundings in Solar Panel Recycling Industry, by Year, 2022 and 2023
Figure 37: Distribution Share of Startup Funding Amount, by Various Rounds, 2022-2023
Figure 38: Ratio of Public and Private Companies
Figure 39: Company Market Share, 2022
Figure 40: Aurubis AG: Annual Revenue, 2021 and 2022
Figure 41: Aurubis AG: Revenue Shares, by Business Unit, 2022
Figure 42: Aurubis AG: Revenue Shares, by Country/Region, 2022
Figure 43: First Solar: Annual Revenue, 2021 and 2022
Figure 44: First Solar: Revenue Shares, by Business Unit, 2022
Figure 45: First Solar: Revenue Shares, by Country/Region, 2022
Figure 46: Trina Solar: Annual Revenue, 2021 and 2022
Figure 47: Trina Solar: Revenue Shares, by Business Unit, 2022
Figure 48: Trina Solar: Revenue Shares, by Country/Region, 2022
Figure 49: Veolia Environnement S.A.: Annual Revenue, 2021 and 2022
Figure 50: Veolia Environnement S.A.: Revenue Shares, by Business Unit, 2022
Figure 51: Veolia Environnement S.A.: Revenue Shares, by Country/Region, 2022

Executive Summary

The world's solar energy generation capacity has been growing at an average of 22% since 2021 and is estimated to grow by ~25% by 2028. Solar energy makes up over 3% of the global electricity mix, and the world’s energy systems are making more space for renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity grew more than 750-fold in just two decades in this energy transition. As per the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global PV capacity grew from 1.4 GW (Gigawatt) in 2000 to 760 GW in 2020.

Furthermore, in just two years after astonishing growth, the global PV capacity exceeded new heights of 1 TW (Terawatt) and reached about 1.2TW by the end of 2022. China dominated the industry with the largest installed capacity in both types, new and cumulative, with its cumulative installed capacity reaching more than 400 GW. Following China, countries with a significant share in PV installations are the U.S., Japan, Germany, India, Australia, Italy, Brazil, the Netherlands, and South Korea.

The renewable energy market continues to expand, and recycling processes will play an increasingly important role. An astounding growth of the solar industry brought in a high number of panel installations, which started to take off in the 2000s, and with a lifespan of around 25 years of solar panels - countries are now approaching the first big wave of discarded solar panels. Solar panel recycling is still at an early stage and a young industry, as most of the current solar capacity has been added within the past ten years. The long life of solar panels provides an opportunity for innovation and growth in the panel recycling market.

Current PV waste volumes remain low as modules have a lifetime of ~30 years. However, as global PV deployment continues to grow and more modules reach the end of their useful life over the next 10-20 years, PV waste will increase nearly 40-fold by 2030. Leading solar markets such as China, the US, Germany, Japan and India are expected to witness a massive pile-up of projected PV waste streams. The market value of recyclable materials generated from solar panels is estimated at $2.7 billion by 2030 from $170 million in 2022. Hence, a lucrative economic opportunity to create employment and a new industry from scrap panels. The solar panel recycling industry requires immense support from the
government in terms of funded projects, research and development, subsidies, and public awareness.

The market for solar panel recycling is expected to grow at an estimated 36.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) globally from 2023 through 2028, fueled by increasing solar panel installations, supportive government policies for the safe disposal of solar panels and rising environmental concerns. The global market for solar panel recycling will reach $1.7 billion in 2028. Among all the regions, the Asia-Pacific region is and will remain the largest market for solar panel recycling by 2028. The current market share of the APAC region is over 36.7%, followed by Europe at 31.2% and North America at 20.5%. The same trend is expected to continue into the year 2028, with some minor distribution percentage changes among the different regions.

In terms of process, the thermal segment is the largest segment of the solar panel recycling industry, comprising 58.4% of the market, followed by chemical with a 27.6% share in 2022. Based on technology, the market is segmented into various categories such as silicon-based, thin-films and others. These segments have been explained in detail in the report; among these segments, silicon-based segments held over 69.9% of the market share in 2022.

Companies Mentioned

  • Aerisoul Metal & Energy Corp. S.R.O.
  • Aurubis AG
  • Cascade Eco Minerals LLC
  • First Solar
  • Nth Cycle Inc.
  • Reclaim Pv Recycling
  • Rosi Solar
  • Solarcycle Inc.
  • The Retrofit Companies Inc.
  • Trina Solar Co. Ltd.
  • Veolia Environnement S.A.
  • We Recycle Solar, Inc.

Table Information