Rosi, a France-based solar panel recycling specialist, has raised €20 million ($23.5M) in Series B funding led by InnoEnergy. The company recovers high-purity silicon, silver, copper, aluminum, and glass from end-of-life photovoltaic modules using proprietary pyrolysis technology. The capital, combined with grants, will fund a new 10,000 tonnes per year plant in Teruel, Spain, and enhancements to its ROSI Alpes facility in France.
EU PV Boom Fuels Waste Crisis
Europe's photovoltaic installations are surging, creating an influx of end-of-life panels that current recycling capacity cannot handle per PV Tech. Competitors like Reiling GmbH focus on glass and aluminum recovery, while SolarCycle scales in the US with similar material extraction. Rosi differentiates by industrially recovering ultra-high purity actives from PV cells, enabling reuse in semiconductors and new panels. This funding arrives as EU regulators push for WEEE directive reforms to match waste growth.
Mounting PV Waste Pressures Europe
Stricter EU WEEE regulations mandate recycling of photovoltaic waste, yet capacity lags behind forecasts. The continent faces tens of millions of tonnes of end-of-life panels by 2050 according to Renewables Now. Traditional methods shred panels for low-value outputs, wasting high-value silicon and silver critical for energy transition. Resource scarcity and import dependency exacerbate the challenge for Europe's solar ambitions.
Proprietary Tech Unlocks High-Purity Recovery
Rosi's process uses pyrolysis to separate and purify active layer materials, achieving world-first industrial recovery of 99.9% pure silicon and silver. Unlike mechanical shredders employed by rivals such as Reiling, Rosi's chemical innovation yields materials suitable for high-end applications like fiber optics. The technology also recovers 90% of impact savings compared to virgin production.
As InnoEnergy's Gianmarco Panone noted:
"What sets ROSI apart is not just that they recycle photovoltaic panels but the unparalleled quality and purity… transforming end-of-life PV modules into valuable, reusable resources."
Strategic Investors Back Circular PV Push
InnoEnergy led the round with participation from CMA CGM, EIC, and G3T, signaling deep conviction in Rosi's role for European raw material sovereignty per InnoEnergy. These backers bring climate tech expertise and logistics muscle, validating Rosi's shift from pilot to multi-site industrial operations. Prior grants from EU Innovation Fund and ADEME underscore policy alignment.
Solar Recycling Market Set to Expand
The European solar panel recycling market reaches $180M TAM by 2026 at 11.5% CAGR per Mordor Intelligence. Globally, it grows from $461M in 2026 to $719M by 2031 at 9.28% CAGR via Yahoo Finance. Rosi positions ahead amid trends like REPowerEU and circular economy mandates, outpacing commodity-focused players like Veolia.
Silicon Experts Drive Industrial Scale
Co-founder Daniel Bajolet brings 30+ years from Rhodia Silicones as World Industrial Director, providing silicon chemistry mastery per LinkedIn. CEO Yun Luo holds a PhD from Max Planck Institute in nanotechnology, while CTO Guy Chichignoud offers CNRS research in solar materials per company site. This blend of academic innovation and industrial know-how fuels Rosi's tech commercialization.
Spain Plant Accelerates Multi-Site Rollout
Fresh funds enable the INSPIRE-PV project's Teruel facility via ROSI Energy Iberia, targeting 10,000 t/y capacity per Renewables Now. Rosi also renews with Soren for French panels and partners with SENS in Switzerland. Operations span France, UK, Germany, and now Spain, supporting EU-wide circularity.