The solar PV module glass, silicon and silver recovery in EU decommissioning industry is estimated at USD 129.0 million in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 446.0 million by 2036, expanding at a 13.2% CAGR from 2026 to 2036, according to Future Market Insights (FMI). The industry was valued at USD 114.0 million in 2025, with the forecast period representing an incremental opportunity of USD 317.0 million.
Growth is being supported by stricter recycling requirements, rising costs associated with landfill exposure, and the increasing retirement of older solar installations across Europe. As decommissioning volumes increase, asset owners and recycling operators are placing greater attention on recovery processes capable of separating glass while preserving higher-value silicon and silver fractions.
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Glass Leads Material Recovery
Glass is expected to account for 58.0% of the material stream segment in 2026, reflecting its high volume in retired PV modules and established recyclability. Mechanical crushing remains an important route for processing large module volumes, although aggressive shredding can increase cross-contamination between glass, silicon-bearing material, polymers, and metallic fractions.
The shift toward more specialized recovery is creating opportunities for processors that can combine high throughput with improved material separation. Cleaner output can support access to downstream refining and secondary-material channels, particularly where silicon and silver recovery is incorporated into the treatment process.
Monocrystalline Modules Hold 56.0% Share
By module chemistry, monocrystalline modules are anticipated to hold a 56.0% share in 2026. Their continued presence in the European decommissioning stream reflects the installation mix established during earlier phases of solar deployment.
Recovery facilities are adapting processing and chemical preparation requirements to handle established module architectures while preparing for greater feedstock variation. As newer module formats enter the end-of-life stream, processing flexibility is becoming increasingly relevant to maintaining consistent recovery performance.
Mechanical Recovery Remains Widely Used
Mechanical recovery is projected to hold a 44.0% share in 2026. The process remains accessible for operators seeking comparatively straightforward high-volume treatment of retired modules.
However, mechanical processing alone can reduce the quality of downstream material fractions when high-speed shredding causes silicon and silver-bearing components to mix with glass and polymer residues. This is encouraging interest in thermal, hydrochemical, and hybrid approaches that can provide deeper material separation.
Utility-Scale Decommissioning Leads
Utility-scale projects are expected to represent 49.0% of the decommissioning source segment in 2026. Large solar parks generate concentrated batches of relatively similar modules, supporting more efficient transportation, staging, sorting, and processing.
At the same time, processors need sufficient storage and intake flexibility to manage unexpected increases in retired modules caused by severe weather damage. Large-volume decommissioning therefore creates both throughput opportunities and operational requirements for scalable recovery infrastructure.
EPR Contracts Account for 38.0% Share
Within the service model segment, EPR contracts are expected to hold a 38.0% share in 2026. These arrangements help asset owners manage collection, treatment, documentation, and waste-diversion responsibilities through specialized organizations.
Alongside EPR models, direct sourcing and toll-recycling arrangements provide alternative routes for companies seeking greater control over recovered material streams and downstream offtake relationships. The growing emphasis on material value recovery is likely to encourage more differentiated service models as processing technologies develop.
Country-Level Growth Outlook
- Germany: Expected to expand at a 13.8% CAGR through 2036, supported by a large base of earlier solar installations approaching replacement.
- Italy: Projected to register a 13.4% CAGR, with localized retirements and compliance activity supporting recovery demand.
- France: Anticipated to grow at a 13.1% CAGR, supported by organized collection and treatment activity.
- Spain: Expected to record a 12.6% CAGR, with repowering activity contributing to module flows into recovery channels.
- Netherlands: Projected to expand at a 12.1% CAGR, supported by concentrated commercial rooftop replacements.
- Belgium: Forecast to grow at an 11.4% CAGR, benefiting from established regional waste and logistics networks.
- Poland: Expected to register a 10.2% CAGR, as its comparatively newer installed base develops toward larger future retirement volumes.
Opportunities for Recovery Technology Providers
The expansion of the industry is creating opportunities for technologies that improve separation quality while maintaining commercially viable processing costs. Thermal delamination can provide an alternative to aggressive mechanical breakage, while mobile processing units may help reduce transportation requirements for remote solar-park decommissioning.
Direct integration with downstream metallurgical facilities can also create opportunities to improve the handling of trace silver and other recovered elemental fractions. Across these applications, processing depth, feedstock flexibility, and compliant downstream pathways are becoming important considerations for industry participants.
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Competitive Landscape
The competitive environment includes established recycling operators and material recovery specialists with capabilities spanning collection, dismantling, mechanical treatment, and advanced recovery. Key companies identified by FMI include Reiling PV-Recycling GmbH & Co. KG, ROSI, SOLAR MATERIALS GmbH, Veolia, Galloo, and Envie 2E Aquitaine.
Competitive differentiation is increasingly linked to processing capacity, regulatory infrastructure, recovery performance, and access to downstream treatment or offtake channels. Established facilities with permitting and compliance capabilities may benefit from the growing complexity of solar module recycling requirements, while specialized technology providers can address demand for higher-purity material recovery.
Business Impact
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About Future Market Insights (FMI)
Future Market Insights, Inc. (FMI) is an ESOMAR-certified, ISO 9001:2015 market research and consulting organization, trusted by Fortune 500 clients and global enterprises. With operations in the U.S., UK, India, and Dubai, FMI provides data-backed insights and strategic intelligence across 30+ industries and 1200 markets worldwide.
