Fuente: Ultrasounds Extraction Byproducts Solar energy, harnessed through photovoltaic (PV) panels, is essential in the shift toward a decarbonised energy system. The worldwide rapid growth of PV installations, with an estimated addition of 600 GW in year 2024, highlights the pivotal role of this type of renewable energy. However, since many PV modules are starting to approach the end of their 30-year lifespan, the need for effective end-of-life (EoL) management becomes critical. This chapter explores the structure and market share of key PV technologies, such as crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin-film types like CdTe and CIGS, focusing on specific raw material demand. The importance of recycling to recover critical materials is emphasised, making a distinction between processing by laminated glass recyclers, which primarily recovers bulk materials like glass and the aluminium frame, and advanced recycling techniques that aim for higher-value material recovery. Advanced recycling is structured in three key steps: disassembly, delamination, and metal recovery. Disassembly involves the removal of frames, junction boxes, and cables. Delamination, the most challenging phase, aims at the removal of the encapsulation layer from the solar cells and exploits different processes like mechanical shredding, combustion or pyrolysis, or chemical dissolution. The final recovery step focuses on extracting valuable materials such as silicon, silver, and rare metals through processes like etching, leaching, and hydrometallurgical extraction. The chapter also outlines the legislative frameworks, particularly the EU’s WEEE Directive, which governs PV waste management, and the existing recycling infrastructure in Europe.