France collected almost twice as many solar panels in 2024 compared to the previous year. Soren, the eco-organization in charge of the sector, takes stock.
In France, Soren organizes the collection and processing of used photovoltaic panels. The eco-organization was created 10 years ago now, by industry players. When the regulation on waste of electrical and electronic equipment (DEEE) extended to solar panels. And Soren has just published his 2024 activity report, a condensed figures in the sector.
We first learn that 17 million solar panels were sold in France last year. It is 17.2 % more than in 2023. The whole for a even 36.1 % higher power. Of the order of 8,085 megawatts (MW). For signs that remain imported in 97 % of cases!
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Always more solar panels collected
On the collection side, a good progression also in 2024. Almost 9,500 tonnes of photovoltaic panels joined the sector. The year before, Soren had only counted more than 5,000 tonnes. For comparison, the weight of solar panels installed in France in 2024 is estimated at around 382,000 tonnes.
Unsurprisingly, it is the regions of the south of France that participate most in the collection. Those, no doubt, where there are the most photovoltaic panels already at the end of life. Note that the collection is done by voluntary contribution – when the installation has less than 40 solar panels – in one of the almost 300 centers that exist in our country or in on -site collection – on simple online request as soon as it is a question of more than 40 panels. All without any costs, the cost of end -of -life collection being already set when purchasing new panels, via eco -party. As a reminder, distributors today have the obligation to regain free equipment that they replace for free.
Read tooWe tested an old used solar panel bought cheap
86 % of thrown panels are recycled
What Soren’s report shows is that the future of the signs thus recovered is significantly the same, from year to year. In 2024, more than 86 % of the systems were recycled. How ? The panels are first separated from their aluminum frame and their junction box. Then they are crushed and diluted and different technologies are mobilized to sort the pieces. What recover glass, aluminum, plastics, metals and semiconductors. A little more than 8 % still ended up. After test of electroluminescence, power and insulation, the remaining 5 % was reconditioned and left for a second life. For almost identical performance, these solar panels can then be sold up to 3 to 4 times cheaper.
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