Solar panel recycling plants established in Spain and Mexico

New solar panel recycling facilities are being established in Spain and Mexico to manage photovoltaic waste and recover valuable materials.

In La Puebla de Híjar, Spain, the Aragonese Institute of Environmental Management (Inaga) has approved a project by the French multinational Rosi. The plant, located in Venta del Barro, aims to recover aluminum, glass, silicon, copper, and silver from solar panels. The facility expects to process 2,000 tons in its first year, scaling up to 10,000 tons annually by 2030. The project involves an investment of approximately 15 million euros and is expected to create between 20 and 25 jobs.

In Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco, Mexico, RAFIQUI A. C. has installed the country’s first specialized solar panel recycling plant. The facility aims to recover up to 95 percent of materials from panels that have reached the end of their useful life. Before recycling, equipment will be evaluated for potential reuse or donation to non-profit organizations. This initiative follows a significant increase in solar installations in Jalisco, which currently hosts approximately 1.6 million panels.