PV Cycle

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.

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

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

• Photovoltaic recycling services
• WEEE compliance solutions
• Producer responsibility organisation
• Solar panel waste management
• E-waste collection logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Consultancy Services: Additional consultancy services offered through webinars, newsletters, and educational tools for EPR compliance and waste management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PV SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2024Collaboration 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 GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2024Collaboration with Leal Group as part of the Mauritius partnership to establish PV panel recycling infrastructure on the island.
• Ecoasis (ENL Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2024Partnership 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.
• SunRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2024Partnership 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 PlazacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PVCYCLEonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/PV.Cycle.Online
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pv-cycle
• Xx.com/pvcycleonline

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PV Cycle