SOLAR MATERIALS is a cleantech startup, focused on revolutionizing the solar energy industry by offering an innovative solution for recycling solar panels. Founded in June 2021, the company has developed a patented recycling technology that allows the efficient recovery of 98% of raw materials from silicon solar panels, including critical elements like silver, silicon, aluminum, copper, glass, and plastics.
The core of their approach lies in a thermo-mechanical process that does not rely on chemicals, making it both energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. By recovering high-quality glass and other valuable materials, SOLAR MATERIALS aims to make solar energy truly circular, addressing the rising challenge of solar panel waste as global installations increase.
The company’s mission is to create a circular economy within the solar industry, and it has secured over €3 million in venture capital from investors such as bmp Ventures, Katapult, and First Imagine. SOLAR MATERIALS began as an R&D company and transitioned into a certified solar panel recycling firm by 2023. They are now scaling up operations, with plans to establish the first automated industrial-scale recycling line capable of processing 10,000 tons annually. By 2050, it is expected that millions of tons of solar panel waste will need processing.
Founder/s: Fridolin Franke, Jan Bargel, Dr.Jan-Philipp Mai
Based In: Magdeburg, Germany
Website: www.solarmaterials.com