Photovoltaics recycling gains traction in Greece with new facilities

Two recycling facilities for solar panels are complete in Greece, while another one is expected to follow soon.

The business case behind the investments in recycling is solid, as more and more older solar farms will reach the end of their operational life, which is 20-25 years. European and national laws stipulate that such equipment must be recycled to reduce pollution and reuse critical minerals as much as possible.

However, owners who prefer to replace their equipment even before the end date is reached are also interested in recycling. The reason is the much higher efficiency of modern photovoltaics.

The factor is gaining in importance as solar panel prices have dropped, while curtailments have been on the rise for two years.

Fotokiklosi is currently the only active licensed company in the sector. It exports photovoltaic waste to Italy for recycling and also specializes in appliances, bulbs and electronics.

However, new opportunities emerge, as other companies have invested in the country’s first recycling facilities. They are situated in Ritsona in Central Greece, in the island of Crete and in Kozani in the Western Macedonia province in northern Greece. The first two are already operational, while the third one is almost complete.

Massive drop in prices

Competition seems to be heating up. According to energypress.gr, Fotokiklosi was charging EUR 300 per ton of photovoltaic waste six years ago, EUR 150 per ton in 2023-2024, and after that only EUR 90 per ton.

It should be noted that the process begins with the payment of a fee from the retailer or importer of panels to the recycling system operator. The recycling company collects the money and pledges to handle the waste after the panels’ operational life has ended.

Fotokiklosi is currently awaiting a new license from the Hellenic Recycling Agency (HRA or EOAN), based a suggested price of EUR 90 per ton.

With the new plants in Greece, old panels will no longer have to be transferred to Italy for recycling. The lower overall cost makes the choice easier for Greek solar farm owners.

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April 16, 2025

by AEA in News

Rörig (E.ON): Croatia charges up to six times higher e-waste fees on solar panels than other EU states

Croatia charges a waste fee on solar panels of EUR 300 per ton, up to six times more than other European Union countries. The levy slows down the expansion of solar energy, Andreas Rörig, president of the Management Board of E.ON Croatia, told Balkan Green Energy News.

In addition to the one-off e-waste management fee, hindering investments, another issue is that Croatia doesn’t have a system for collecting and recycling solar panels.

Andreas Rörig’s post on LinkedIn received a lot of public attention. He wrote that in Croatia high fees and regulatory barriers, including the ones related to waste, are holding back solar’s potential. With a waste fee of EUR 0.3 per kilogram (EUR 300 per ton), the profitability of solar investments is at risk, he added.

The fee in other EU countries ranges from EUR 50 to EUR 150

Rörig explained that a comparison with other EU member states demonstrates that fees in Croatia are significantly higher than in neighboring countries. For example, they range from EUR 50 to EUR 150 in the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia, and Hungary.

The fee is paid on total weight, which is more than 20 kilograms per panel, according to E.ON. Even more concerning is the disproportionate taxation: 80% to 90% of a solar panel’s mass consists of easily recyclable materials that aren’t classified as e-waste, yet the fee is charged on the total weight.

“This approach discourages investment, slows Croatia’s progress toward energy transition, and contradicts the country’s goals of reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency. A practical example of why solar energy accounts for less than 2% of Croatia’s energy mix – far below its true potential,” Rörig stated.

There are signs that things are about to change

Therefore he recommended reducing the electronic waste management fee for solar panels and suspending the obligation until a functional disposal system is in place. He confirmed there is currently no functional system for the collection, processing, and recycling of e-waste from solar panels in Croatia.

“However, there are positive indications that the fee will be reduced and that the system will be established. We believe that the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund or FZOEU has recognized the needs of the industry. E.ON supports such measures because we believe that they will fix the problem and enable easier waste management,” Rörig stressed.

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