France collected 13,760 tonnes of end-of-life solar modules in 2025, up 40% from the previous year, as recycling activity accelerates.
Government agency Soren expects annual volumes to reach nearly 180,000 tonnes by 2040, underscoring the growing importance of recycling to Europe’s industrial supply chain.
Soren, the French state-approved organization responsible for managing end-of-life photovoltaic panels, says it has “reached a milestone” in its 2025 activity report. The year saw unprecedented growth in the French photovoltaic recycling sector, with 13,760 tonnes of panels collected, a 40% increase compared with 2024.
“These figures reflect the reality of a sector that is becoming more professional, organized, and mature,” said Nicolas Defrenne, CEO of the organization, which was established in 2015.
Working with recycling partners Envie 2E, Galloo, Rosi, RVE, and First Solar, Soren oversaw the processing of more than 12,736 tonnes of panels in 2025, achieving a recovery rate of more than 90%. Of this total, 10,684 tonnes were recycled, 1,298 tonnes underwent energy recovery, and 754 tonnes were sent for disposal.
