SOLAR MATERIALS has doubled its annual recycling capacity for solar modules to 14,000 tons. At the same time, the company is introducing a flexible capacity model designed to accelerate its expansion into additional European markets.

Since spring 2025, SOLAR MATERIALS has operated the world’s most advanced industrial-scale recycling plant for solar modules. The decision to double capacity is driven by rising demand for recycling solutions for end-of-life panels and by the pressing need to recover strategic raw materials such as silicon and silver.

Modular Capacity to Support Europe’s Needs

Thanks to the modular design of its recycling line, SOLAR MATERIALS can respond rapidly to growing demand in European and global markets. Entire system modules can be relocated within weeks. The company’s current expansion strategy focuses on strengthening Europe’s energy and resource sovereignty, prioritizing its home market of Germany as well as core European markets and the United Kingdom.

Strengthening the Circular Economy by Recovering Critical Raw Materials

With its patented mechanical process, SOLAR MATERIALS recovers all materials from discarded solar modules. The resulting secondary raw materials flow back into European value chains. Silicon and silver, in particular, are considered critical resources. By reclaiming them, the company helps secure Europe’s long-term supply of essential materials.

“Our technology is ready for the European market. We can deploy our recycling line to new locations in a very short time and build up infrastructure exactly where end-of-life modules are generated,” says Dr. Jan-Philipp Mai, CEO of SOLAR MATERIALS. “Every ton we recycle keeps valuable materials in Europe — silver, silicon, aluminium, copper, glass. That’s not just environmentally responsible; it also strengthens the EU’s economic independence.”

About SOLAR MATERIALS

Since 2021, Magdeburg-based SOLAR MATERIALS GmbH has recycled solar modules that have reached the end of their service life. Its fully automated process recovers all materials cost-effectively, including silicon and silver.

Certified as a specialist waste-management company since 2023, SOLAR MATERIALS launched the first industrial recycling line dedicated exclusively to solar modules in April 2025. The line has an annual capacity of 14,000 tons. For 2026, the company plans to triple its capacity and establish additional sites abroad.

Recovered secondary materials require up to 95% less energy and generate 80% fewer CO₂ emissions compared with primary raw materials.