Solar waste in India: To achieve the net-zero target, India is increasing its renewable energy capacity. Recently, the Modi government has implemented the Pradhan Mantri Sarvodaya Yojana. Under this scheme, one crore roof top solar panels will be installed across the country and electricity will be produced. The government says that the poor and middle class will benefit from this and their electricity bills will be reduced.
However, recently a study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, ‘Enabling a Circular Economy in India’s Solar Industry: Assessing the Solar Waste Quantum’, has revealed some very surprising facts. According to this study, the solar waste generated from existing and new solar power capacity (installed between FY 2023-24 and FY 2029-30) could reach 600 kilotons by 2030. This would be equivalent to filling 720 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
These five states will generate the most waste
According to this CEW study, most of this solar waste will come from five states, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Solar waste from India’s existing solar power capacity will increase to 340 kilotons by 2030. This includes about 10 kilotons of silicon, 12-18 tonnes of silver and 16 tonnes of cadmium and tellurium, which are important minerals for India. The remaining 260 kilotons of solar waste will come from new solar power capacity to be installed in this decade. This is a good opportunity for India to emerge as a leading center of circular economy in the solar sector and ensure flexibility in the solar supply chain.
India has made this plan…
As India plans to achieve around 292 GW of solar capacity by 2030, managing solar PV waste will become important for environmental, economic and social reasons. This CEEW study has for the first time estimated solar waste from all sectors except manufacturing, which is vital information for formulating solar waste management policies.
Let us tell you that India is already implementing several measures to deal with solar waste. Last year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued the E-Waste (Management) Rules-2022 for the management of solar PV cells and module waste. These rules put the responsibility on the producers of solar PV cells and modules to manage their solar waste under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.
What did the expert say…
Dr. Arunabha Ghose, CEO, CEEW said, “India must proactively take steps to address solar waste, not only as an environmental imperative but also as a strategic requirement to ensure energy security and develop a circular economy. As we witness a significant increase in solar power capacity from just 4 GW in March 2015 to 73 GW by December 2023, robust recycling mechanisms become critical. They secure the renewable energy ecosystem, create green jobs, enhance mineral security and innovation, and build resilient and circular supply chains.”
Neeraj Kuldeep, Senior Program Lead, CEEW, said, ‘India’s G20 Presidency had identified a circular economy as a key area for sustainable development. A circular solar sector and responsible waste management will maximize resource efficiency and bring resilience to domestic supply chains. This CEEW study provides strong evidence of the opportunity in solar waste management, but solar recycling technology and industry are still in their early stages and need policy incentives and support.’
Although the current design life of a solar module is 25 years, some modules are lost earlier due to reasons such as damage during transportation, module maintenance and operation of projects. The CEEW study recommends that the Indian solar power industry should prepare for these new responsibilities by setting up reverse logistics, storage, dismantling and recycling facilities for lost modules. The industry should also explore innovative financing mechanisms and business models for solar waste management. In addition, a periodic, updated database of installed solar power capacity (with details such as module technology, manufacturer and date of operation) should be available to capture accurate information of potential solar waste generating centres and strategically set up waste management infrastructure.
Tags: energy minister, Solar System
FIRST PUBLISHED : March 20, 2024, 22:14 IST