Wind, PV and batteries recycling in Europe: an opportunity for the recovery of critical raw materials

Market traction and industry projections are ambitious when it comes to wind and solar PV, while batteries are key to the electrification of mobility and to the increase of renewables in the energy mix. However, the boost in deployment of renewable energy technologies brings an unresolved problem to the table: how to manage the enormous amount of waste generated when they reach the end of their useful life. The approach to this waste is a matter of concern; nobody wants to see wind turbine blades, photovoltaic plant panels, or batteries dumped on a landfill, particularly when they are sold as
environmentally friendly.