Belgium’s First Second-Hand Solar Panel Market Takes Shape

A company in Seraing, Wallonia, is working to create Belgium’s first official second-hand market for solar panels, a move that could make renewable energy more affordable while reducing electronic waste. Recma Groupe, an industrial social economy enterprise, aims to divert still-functional photovoltaic panels from the recycling stream and put them back on the market by the end of 2028.

The Scale of the Opportunity

Belgium’s solar panel waste stream is growing rapidly. In 2024, PV Cycle Belgium collected 1,491 tonnes of photovoltaic panels — more than double the 658 tonnes collected in 2023, a 127% increase. By 2025, that figure had climbed to approximately 1,800 tonnes. The surge is driven by “repowering”: homeowners and businesses replacing older, less efficient panels with newer, cheaper, and more powerful models.

Currently, all collected panels are dismantled and largely recycled. But Recma discovered that a significant portion remains in perfect working condition. According to Céline Naveau, Director General of Recma Groupe, more than half of the panels they receive are still functional.

“We realized that there were a huge number of solar panels that were still working when they arrived at our facility, some of them with high capacity,” Naveau told RTBF.

Recma processed 500 tonnes of solar panels in 2025 at its Seraing facility. The company estimates that about 90% of the panels it selects for testing pass quality checks and remain capable of efficiently producing electricity.

A Focus on Quality

Rather than attempting to resell all functional panels, Recma is taking a targeted approach. The company is focusing on the top 10% of highest-quality panels — those with the greatest market value.

“Today, we believe that of all the panels we receive, more than half are in working condition and could be put back on the market. We decided to focus on the highest quality panels that have the greatest market value,” Naveau explained.

This strategy addresses a key economic challenge: creating sufficient market value for used panels to make the venture profitable for Recma, which operates as a social economy enterprise focused on socio-professional integration and job creation for low-skilled workers.

Regulatory Hurdles

The project faces a significant legal barrier. Under current EU and Belgian law, once solar panels enter the dismantling and recycling stream, they are legally classified as waste. This classification prevents their resale through an official second-hand channel.

Recma is working with the Walloon Region’s Department of Soils and Waste under the Circular Wallonia strategy to overcome these regulatory obstacles. The company is also building an ecosystem of partners — from collection points and testing facilities to certifiers and installers — to support the future reuse channel.

Foundation Support

The project has been selected for the King Baudouin Foundation’s “Allez Circulez” program, which supports social and circular economy enterprises. The program provides coaching and financial support of up to €80,000.

Anneke Ernon, Project Coordinator at the King Baudouin Foundation, highlighted the broader significance of the initiative: “The idea is very interesting because potentially there is a product that could become accessible to many more people, which, at this time of energy transition, is something important and very useful.”

Implications for Belgium and Beyond

If successful, Recma’s model could serve as a blueprint for other regions. The environmental and economic stakes are considerable. Second-hand panels could significantly lower the upfront cost of solar installations, making renewable energy accessible to lower-income households and small businesses. They would also reduce electronic waste and extend product lifespans, aligning with circular economy principles.

The Flemish region currently accounts for 87.5% of collected panels, reflecting its earlier and larger-scale adoption of solar technology. As more panels reach end-of-life across the country, the potential for reuse will only grow.

What’s Next

Recma aims to launch the official second-hand solar panel channel by the end of 2028. In the coming years, the company must resolve regulatory barriers, establish quality certification standards, and build a viable commercial ecosystem. The project’s progress will be closely watched by policymakers and industry stakeholders across Europe as a potential precedent for waste-to-product reclassification.

“Faced with the increase in flows and the increase in waste, we wanted to create a project to be able to reuse these panels, to put them back on the market,” Naveau said. The question now is whether the regulatory framework can evolve quickly enough to match the ambition.