Mega solar recycling plant not a dream of the future?

French start-up Rosi has received backing for its solar panel recycling technology from Japanese trading firm Itochu Corporation.

Rosi has raised EUR 10.5 million in recent months from BPI France and other investors, including Itochu. Going forward, the latter will set up a recycling chain with Rosi’s technology. Itochu will also promote and expand its solar panel recycling business. These activities build on its role in setting up mega solar plants in Japan and overseas in the last few years.

Rosi is currently building a dedicated solar panel recycling plant in France, which was commissioned in 2021. The new facility represents a commercial-scale site, scheduled to open doors later this year.

Since its launch in 2017, the recycler has specialised in extracting and recycling silver, copper and silicon from used solar cells at high purity. Its unique approach, which combines physical, thermal and soft chemistry mechanisms, allows the company to ‘deeply separate’ the materials laminated in end-of-life photovoltaic panels. No aggressive chemical reaction is required, significantly reducing operating costs.

Rosi expects that the volume of decommissioned solar panels will grow rapidly in coming years, accounting for roughly 3% (280 000 tonnes) of European industrial waste sent to landfill by 2036. It envisions the creation of a new, sustainable photovoltaic industry. ‘And we are ready  to be part of this movement.’