France's Soren PV Recycling Volume Up 40% to 13,760 Tons in 2025

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Soren, France's end-of-life photovoltaic module management organization, released its 2025 activity report, showing that the country's PV module recycling volume reached 13,760 tons last year, a 40% increase from 2024. The organization described this result as "reaching a milestone," with its Executive Director Nicolas Defrenne stating that these figures reflect an industry that is professionalizing, organizing, and maturing.

Founded in 2015, Soren is authorized by the French government to manage the recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic modules. In 2025, the organization, together with recycling partners such as Envie 2E, Galloo, Rosi, RVE, and First Solar, oversaw the processing of more than 12,736 tons of modules, with an overall recycling rate exceeding 90%. Of this, 10,684 tons entered the recycling loop, 1,298 tons were used for energy recovery, and 754 tons were sent to disposal facilities.

Materials such as glass, aluminum, copper, and mineral components re-enter the circular economy through recycling. Defrenne noted that against the backdrop of silver, silicon, or copper demand potentially growing 4 to 6 times by 2040, PV module recycling is no longer a marginal issue but a strategic priority concerning European industrial sovereignty. Soren predicts that the volume of end-of-life modules will grow exponentially in the coming years, with approximately 180,000 tons of PV modules reaching the end of their service life annually in France by 2040, and preparation efforts need to begin now.

On the financial side, Soren had 600 producer members in 2025, with eco-contribution revenue slightly exceeding €12 million. The organization's total annual budget was €15.47 million, supplemented by €2.33 million from the sale of recycled materials and €790,000 in financial income. Operating costs were the largest expenditure item, reaching €7.35 million, of which collection accounted for €2.69 million and processing €4.66 million; provisions for future obligations stood at €5.41 million. As of the end of 2025, cash and provisions for future obligations totaled €35.49 million.