A new record high in sales figures is shaping the electrical goods market in Germany: 3.4 million metric tons of new electrical appliances were placed on the market in 2025—more than ever before.
The main driver of this trend is photovoltaics: The number of newly installed modules grew by 16 percent compared to the previous year.
In contrast, the official take-back volume amounted to just around 960,000 metric tons.
The ear figures for 2025 at a glance
• Total electrical appliances placed on the market: just under 3.4 million metric tons
• Growth in PV modules: +16 percent compared to the previous year
• Share of PV modules (Categories 4 and 5): approximately 26 percent of this total
• Waste electrical and electronic equipment collected: approximately 960,000 metric tons
• Share of PV modules in the collection: just over 1 percent
Today, roughly one in every four metric tons on the electrical market is a solar module—yet they account for barely one percent of waste.
The reason: PV modules are extremely durable and often remain in operation for 20 to 30 years. The massive quantities currently being installed due to the boom will not enter the recycling stream until the coming decades. At that point, however, the return volume will rise abruptly and dramatically.
For manufacturers and retailers, this means that anyone selling modules today assumes extended producer responsibility (EPR), which will only take effect generations later. Registrations, bankruptcy-proof warranties, and volume reports must be documented in a legally compliant manner from day one.
Regulatory Pressure Due to Unmet EU Targets
At the same time, political pressure to take action is growing. Germany has failed to meet the EU’s statutory collection rate for e-waste for the seventh consecutive year: Instead of the required 65 percent, only 29.8 percent was achieved in 2025. The German Environmental Aid Association (DUH) is therefore already calling for a fundamental system change toward even stricter producer responsibility.
Market volumes—driven by the PV boom—are growing significantly faster than take-back infrastructure. Companies that sell PV modules or other electrical appliances should proactively review their compliance processes before quotas, regulatory inspections, and fines are further tightened.
Contact us for comprehensive compliance consulting on electrical equipment, batteries, packaging, and PV panels – and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on laws and trends.
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