PV Cycle
PV CYCLE is a Belgium-based non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation founded in 2007 that provides WEEE Directive compliance, collection, and recycling services for photovoltaic panels across EU27 and international markets, serving manufacturers, importers, distributors, and installers in the solar value chain.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PV Cycle does
PV CYCLE AISBL is a Belgium-based non-profit international association (AISBL) founded in 2007, operating as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that provides Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance and waste management services for photovoltaic panels under the EU WEEE Directive. The organization serves the photovoltaic value chain — manufacturers, importers, distributors, and installers — by orchestrating collection, treatment, and recycling of end-of-life panels across EU27 member states and internationally. It was the first entity globally to organize PV panel collection and recycling, predating the 2014 inclusion of PV panels in WEEE scope. PV CYCLE operates through national representations in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan, and has expanded partnerships into LATAM (SunR, Brazil) and the Indian Ocean (Mauritius, via PV Solutions, Leal Group, and Ecoasis/ENL Group).
The company employs a ~10-person core team in Brussels and operates a multi-technology recycling network leveraging mechanical treatment/shredding, hot-knife machinery, physico-chemical treatment, and pyrolysis through partner facilities. Its proprietary BATNEEC (Best Available Techniques Not Exceeding Excessive Costs) methodology selects optimal treatment plants to economically recover materials from laminated flat glass PV panels. The technology stack is complemented by a member portal (portal.pvcycle.org), online collection request forms, and an Odoo-based web infrastructure. The organization is ISO certified (specific standard not disclosed) and holds EU-registered trademarks.
PV CYCLE's business model is fundamentally membership-based: producers and importers pay annual membership fees and WEEE compliance contributions to obtain compliance certificates valid for one year, with additional revenue from consultancy services (webinars, newsletters, educational tools). Partnership registration is free, while full membership and consultancy engagement require consultation and quote. The model is recurring/annual with high visibility into revenue, structurally aligned with regulatory renewal cycles. In 2024, PV CYCLE collected 17,416 tonnes of PV panels across Europe and recycled 1,491 tonnes in Belgium alone (a 126% year-over-year increase), with active expansion into battery and e-waste verticals alongside core PV services.
PV Cycle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PV Cycle
- Legal name
- PV CYCLE AISBL
- Website
- https://pvcycle.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PV CYCLE is a Belgium-based non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation founded in 2007 that provides WEEE Directive compliance, collection, and recycling services for photovoltaic panels across EU27 and international markets, serving manufacturers, importers, distributors, and installers in the solar value chain.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PV Cycle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photovoltaic Waste Management and WEEE Compliance
- NAICS
- Waste Collection (56211), Waste Treatment and Disposal (5622)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- PV & Energy Device Recycling (Solar Panels, Inverters, Power Electronics) (EUAIAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar End-of-Life, Recycling & Decommissioning (Panels, Inverters, Racking) (EUAMABAM), Decommissioning, Recycling & End-of-Life Services (Module Recycling, Site Restoration) (EUACAGAM)
Keywords
Where PV Cycle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
PV Cycle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership Fees and Contributions: Annual membership fees, contributions, and WEEE compliance fees charged to producers and importers placing photovoltaic panels on the market. Certificate valid for one full year of membership upon payment.
- Consultancy Services: Additional consultancy services offered through webinars, newsletters, and educational tools for EPR compliance and waste management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Partnership Registration |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
PV Cycle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PV CYCLE collects, treats, and recycles end-of-life photovoltaic (solar) panels on behalf of producers, importers, distributors, and installers, and provides WEEE Directive / Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance services across EU27 and selected international markets. It also delivers paid consultancy on PV waste legislation and EPR obligations, supported by an annual membership programme that grants participating companies a WEEE compliance certificate valid for one year.
Product overview
PV CYCLE operates as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) offering a unified platform of waste management and compliance services for the photovoltaic industry. The core offering consists of three interconnected services: EU27 PV Recycling Services for European Union compliance, International PV Services for worldwide operations (including dedicated representations in Belgium, Germany, Italy, UK, and Japan), and PV Cycle Consultancy Services for regulatory guidance. Supporting these core services are the Membership and Extranet Portal providing exclusive member access and certificate management, the PV Panel Collection Form for logistics coordination, the Toolbox for downloadable resources, and comprehensive information resources including Annual Reports and Legislation/FAQ sections. The organization specializes in compliance with WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) and Extended Producer Responsibility obligations for photovoltaic panels, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, and packaging.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EU27 PV Recycling Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 17,416 tonnes of PV panels collected across Europe in 2024
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use PV Cycle
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
PV Cycle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
PV Cycle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PV SolutionscoreCollaboration with PV Solutions to establish the first fully dedicated PV panel recycling facility in Mauritius, managing waste from production and post-consumer PV panels.
- Leal GroupcoreCollaboration with Leal Group as part of the Mauritius partnership to establish PV panel recycling infrastructure on the island.
- Ecoasis (ENL Group)corePartnership with Ecoasis, a subsidiary of the ENL Group, to manage waste from production and post-consumer PV panels, as well as e-waste and energy storage systems, serving Mauritius and Indian Ocean islands.
- SunRcorePartnership with SunR, the first fully dedicated recycler for PV Panels in Brazil, to strengthen combined capacity for waste management services covering the complete LATAM market for production and post-consumer PV panel waste.
- Solar PlazacoreOngoing partnership with Solar Plaza to organize recycling summits including the Recycling Solar & BESS Summit and Recycling Renewables Summit.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PV Cycle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- take-e-back: German-headquartered Producer Responsibility Organisation offering WEEE, batteries, and packaging compliance services across Europe. Directly comparable to PV CYCLE as a multi-stream PRO serving EU producers, though without PV-specialization.
- Stichting OPEN: Dutch PRO for electric appliances and lighting under WEEE; one of the largest PROs in Europe with extensive member base and collection infrastructure. Comparable as a Europe-wide WEEE compliance organization with similar subscription revenue model.
- Wecycle: Netherlands-based WEEE and battery PRO coordinating collection and recycling of electronic waste. Comparable PRO business model with annual membership fees and compliance services for producers placing equipment on the Dutch market.
Emerging players
- SunR: Brazil-based, first fully dedicated PV panel recycler in Latin America; existing PV CYCLE partner (announced Aug 2024). Highly comparable as a regional PV-specialized recycling partner extending PV CYCLE's footprint into LATAM.
- ROSI Solar: France-based PV recycling technology company developing high-value material recovery from end-of-life panels. Comparable as a PV-specific recycling technology specialist focused on the same end-of-life streams PV CYCLE coordinates.
- SolarCycle: US-based solar panel recycling startup building high-throughput PV recycling capacity with venture backing. Comparable as a focused PV end-of-life specialist with technology-driven processing approach competing for the same nascent PV waste stream.
Regional players
- Lightcycle: Canadian national lamp and lighting recycling PRO with similar extended producer responsibility structure. Comparable as a national-level PRO operating under EPR-style mandates, though focused on lighting rather than PV panels and operating in a different geography.
Broad incumbents
- First Solar: Global thin-film PV manufacturer operating the industry's first comprehensive PV module recycling program with in-house collection and high-value material recovery. Comparable as a vertical player with dedicated PV recycling capability, though as a manufacturer rather than a third-party PRO.
- Veolia Environmental Services: Global waste management and environmental services operator with broad electronic and industrial waste treatment capabilities across Europe. Comparable as a large incumbent capable of absorbing PV panel waste streams as part of a wider portfolio, though without PV-specific specialization.
- Suez Recycling and Recovery: Major European waste management operator offering collection, treatment, and recycling of WEEE streams including PV-related materials. Comparable as an established incumbent with regulatory relationships and treatment infrastructure across EU27.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PV Cycle social profiles
Digital presencePV Cycle compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
PV Cycle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PV Cycle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
PV Cycle subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
PV Cycle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PV Cycle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PV Cycle
What does PV Cycle do?
PV CYCLE collects, treats, and recycles end-of-life photovoltaic (solar) panels on behalf of producers, importers, distributors, and installers, and provides WEEE Directive / Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance services across EU27 and selected international markets. It also delivers paid consultancy on PV waste legislation and EPR obligations, supported by an annual membership programme that grants participating companies a WEEE compliance certificate valid for one year.
Is PV Cycle a public or private company?
PV Cycle is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PV Cycle founded?
PV Cycle was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PV Cycle based?
PV Cycle is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does PV Cycle make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are consultancy Services.
Who are PV Cycle's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are take-e-back, Stichting OPEN and Wecycle. Emerging players are SunR, ROSI Solar and SolarCycle. Lightcycle is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are First Solar, Veolia Environmental Services and Suez Recycling and Recovery.
Does PV Cycle have an API?
No public API is recorded for PV Cycle.
What industry is PV Cycle in?
PV Cycle's product category is Photovoltaic Waste Management and WEEE Compliance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAIAL, PV & Energy Device Recycling (Solar Panels, Inverters, Power Electronics), with a secondary code of EUAMABAM, Solar End-of-Life, Recycling & Decommissioning (Panels, Inverters, Racking). Its NAICS code is 56211 and its SIC code is 4953.