First Step Toward a Circular System for Solar Panels

Solar energy is a renewable and sustainable energy source that plays a key role in the green transition. By reducing dependence on fossil fuels, it contributes to significantly lower carbon emissions and a more resilient energy system.

Solar Energy – A Key to the Sustainable Energy System of the Future

Solar energy strengthens energy security, especially as it can be combined with other renewable energy sources and modern storage technologies. For both households and businesses, solar panels can lead to lower electricity costs – and in many cases, even income from surplus electricity. A critical advantage is the speed of deployment: solar power can be scaled up faster than any other energy source, making it particularly valuable as demand for fossil-free electricity grows rapidly.

Despite the crucial role of solar panels in the energy transition, there are still no effective systems in place to manage them at the end of their life cycle. Many are not handled in a resource-efficient way, leading to the loss of valuable materials and unnecessary waste. To build a sustainable system, circular solutions that prioritize reuse, repair, and material recycling are needed. The number of decommissioned solar panels in Sweden is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, yet established systems for efficient end-of-life management remain lacking.

CircSolar – Collaboration for a Circular System

This spring, a first batch of solar panels was sent to Remondis facility in Eindhoven, where the panels can undergo more advanced material recycling than is currently possible at large-scale facilities in Sweden.

To succeed in creating a circular system in Sweden, we need both strong collaboration across the value chain and to learn from solutions already being tested in Europe.

— Johanna Olofsson Behrman, Program Director for Future Materials at Axfoundation

From Pilot in Eindhoven to Future Facility in Hovmantorp

The recycling line in Eindhoven is one of the most advanced solar technology in Europe. Panels are recycled in accordance with the EU’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, aiming for at least 80% material recovery. Glass makes up the largest volume, but metals such as aluminum and copper are also recovered. One area that still requires development is the recovery of valuable silicon from the solar cells.

At Remondis, we look forward starting to recycle in Hovmantop as soon as volumes allow. We also see the reuse of entire panels as a future solution. We already have channels in place – but for now, the economic conditions are not yet viable.

— Per Sundbom, Business Area Manager for Electronic Waste at Remondis

About CircSolar

By bringing together actors from across the value chain, CircSolar has created a platform to explore both current challenges and future solutions – laying the foundation for collaborative efforts to address a complex issue. In 2025, the project entered a more solution-oriented phase, using insights gained to build a circular roadmap. The goal is to help develop a system that extends the lifespan of solar panels, optimizes material recovery, and supports a more sustainable and circular solar energy sector.

Increased material recovery is a key part of a circular system. Lessons from the Eindhoven pilot can pave the way for new innovations and investments in Sweden.

Axfoundation’s Role

Axfoundation works to enable and accelerate system change through collaboration, testing, and knowledge sharing. Within CircSolar, this means creating the conditions for scaling solutions – by connecting stakeholders, testing models in practice, and elevating insights into policy and public discourse.