India’s solar surge earns praise across the world. The transition still conceals a mounting waste problem.
Over just more than a decade, India became the world’s third-largest solar power producer. Renewable energy now underpins national climate policy. Solar panels span massive parks and line rooftops across the country.
Large utility-scale projects generate most solar electricity. Millions of rooftop systems also supply power to the grid. Government data show nearly 2.4 million households adopted solar through subsidies.
Solar expansion reduced dependence on coal-fired generation. Thermal and other non-renewables still exceed half of installed capacity. Solar power now provides more than 20 percent. This success introduces a difficult aftereffect.
Clean Power With an Unclear Exit
Solar panels produce clean electricity during use. Disposal after retirement can damage the environment.
Panels consist mainly of glass, aluminium, silver, and polymers. They also contain small quantities of hazardous metals. Lead and cadmium can contaminate soil and water if mishandled.
Most solar panels operate for around 25 years. Owners then remove and discard them. India lacks a dedicated recycling budget. Only a few small facilities currently process retired panels.
India publishes no official figures on solar waste. One estimate suggested around 100,000 tonnes by 2023. Volumes could reach 600,000 tonnes by 2030. Experts warn the steep rise remains ahead.
The Waste Surge Still to Come
Specialists caution that the main impact will arrive later. Without early investment, recycling systems may falter.
The Council on Energy, Environment and Water issued stark projections. India could generate more than 11 million tonnes of solar waste by 2047. Managing this would require nearly 300 recycling plants. Investment needs could reach 478 million dollars.
Most large solar parks emerged during the mid-2010s. The main waste wave will arrive in 10 to 15 years, says Rohit Pahwa of Targray. Preparation must begin immediately.
India’s outlook mirrors global patterns. The United States could generate between 170,000 and one million tonnes by 2030. China could approach one million tonnes after similar growth.
Policy Fails to Match the Pace
Countries address solar waste through very different regulatory systems. Policy often trails rapid deployment.
In the United States, recycling depends largely on market forces. State-level rules create uneven oversight. China, like India, continues to build its framework. Both lack fully mature national systems.
India included solar panels under electronic waste rules in 2022. The policy places end-of-life responsibility on manufacturers. Companies must collect, dismantle, and recycle panels. Enforcement remains inconsistent.
Experts highlight problems with household installations. Home systems represent five to ten percent of capacity. These units remain harder to trace and collect. Their combined waste still creates pressure.
From Rooftops to Dump Sites
Broken or unwanted panels often end up in landfills. Others move through informal recycling networks. Unsafe practices can release toxic substances. Authorities have yet to offer detailed public explanations.
Environmental expert Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka warns against misplaced optimism. Solar energy appears clean for two decades, he says. Without recycling, it risks leaving abandoned modules behind.
Challenges also bring economic opportunity. Rising waste will increase demand for specialised recycling firms, Pahwa says.
Efficient recycling could recover 38 percent of materials by 2047. It could also prevent 37 million tonnes of emissions from mining. The CEEW study outlines these gains.
India already trades recycled glass and aluminium. Recycling can also recover silicon, silver, and copper. These materials can support new panels or other industries, says study co-author Akansha Tyagi.
Current recycling methods remain basic. Operators focus on low-value materials. Precious metals often disappear or yield minimal returns.
Decisions That Will Shape the Outcome
Experts say the next decade will define India’s solar legacy. The country must build a regulated recycling system. Public awareness must increase. Waste collection must integrate into solar business models.
Companies earning from solar power should manage panels after failure, Nakka argues. Responsibility should extend beyond installation.
Without proper recycling, today’s clean energy could become tomorrow’s environmental burden.
