India’s ambitious target of sourcing 50% of its power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 has propelled a rapid expansion of its solar energy sector. The country’s installed solar energy capacity witnessed a remarkable surge last year, reaching approximately 70.1 gigawatts (GW), marking a 23-fold increase over the past decade. As India gears up to achieve its clean energy goals, the scale of its solar waste problem becomes increasingly apparent.
The rapid growth of India’s clean energy transition has led to a significant accumulation of solar panel waste, comprising panels, glass, aluminium, silicon, rare-earth elements, power inverters, and wiring. According to a March report by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), a leading think tank, India’s burgeoning solar energy sector has already generated around 100 kilotonnes (KT) of solar photovoltaic (PV) waste. By 2030, this figure is projected to surge to 600 KT from existing and upcoming solar power projects.
The impact of India’s solar energy boom is not uniform across the country. The report highlights that a substantial proportion, approximately two-thirds or 67%, of the anticipated solar waste is expected to originate from five states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. These states, housing eight of India’s ten largest solar parks, are driving the nation’s clean energy agenda but face significant challenges related to waste management. The concentration of the problem in these regions underscores the urgency for tailored solutions and targeted interventions.
India’s E-Waste Management Rules 2022 address the issue of solar waste, encompassing discarded modules and scrap generated during cell and module manufacturing processes. The regulations mandate solar-panel manufacturers to manage the return of their products’ waste, including collection, storage, dismantling, and recycling facilities, until 2035. Solar waste from plants must be handed over to authorised e-waste contractors approved by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within specified timeframes, typically 90 or 180 days.
However, the effectiveness of waste management efforts is hindered by inadequate recycling facilities, insufficient infrastructure, and a lack of technology required for solar panel recycling. Much of the solar waste, akin to other electronic waste, ends up in the informal sector, where workers often lack adequate protection and compensation.
Experts emphasize the importance of efficiently managing solar waste, which can be recycled to recover valuable materials such as glass, aluminium, copper, silicon, and silver through mechanical, thermal, and chemical processes. Addressing the growing solar waste issue requires incentivising recyclers and mobilising stakeholders to adopt sustainable waste management practices.
Furthermore, maintaining a comprehensive database of installed solar capacity is crucial for estimating future solar waste and implementing effective waste management strategies. By addressing these challenges, India can navigate its solar energy transition while mitigating environmental risks and fostering economic and social sustainability.