Context

A recent study ‘Enabling a Circular Economy in India’s Solar Industry – Assessing the Solar Waste Quantum’ has been conducted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

• The study has been done  in collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) has estimated concerning predictions about India’s solar waste. 

What is Solar waste?

• It is defined as the waste which is generated during the manufacturing of solar modules and waste from the field during a project’s lifetime. 
• The study categorizes solar waste into manufacturing waste and field waste
  • In the manufacturing stage, there are two kinds of waste: 
    • Scraps created during production and 
    • Waste resulting from PV modules that don’t meet quality standards.
  • Waste from the field has three main sources:
    • Waste generated during transportation and handling, where damaged modules are classified as waste.
    • Waste resulting from damage sustained by solar modules during their operational lifespan.
    • Disposal of modules when they reach the end of their usable life and are no longer functional.

Key Findings of the Study

• Current Capacity and Waste:

  • Current Capacity and Past Waste: India’s existing installed capacity of 66.7 GW (as of FY23) has already produced approximately 100 kilotonnes of waste.
  • 2030 Waste Projection: This waste is projected to increase significantly to 340 kilotonnes by 2030.

• Cumulative Waste Projections:

  • Rise in cumulative waste: The cumulative solar waste from both existing and new capacity deployment, between FY24 and FY30, is estimated to reach about 600 kilotonnes by 2030.
  • Rise in waste due to new capacities: By 2050,600 kilotonnes  is projected to rise significantly to approximately 19,000 kilotonnes, with 77% generated from new capacities.

• Mineral Composition in Discarded Modules:

  • Minerals in solar waste: Discarded solar modules contain critical minerals such as silicon, copper, tellurium, and cadmium.
    • By 2030, expected solar power waste will include 10 kilotonnes of silicon, 12-18 tonnes of silver, and 16 tonnes of cadmium and tellurium.
  • Significance of minerals; These minerals play major  roles in various industries and are significant for India’s economic development and national security.

• Major States of Solar Waste Production

• • In India, 67% of solar waste is Concentrated  in Five States. 
    • These states are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Reasons for Concentration:
    • High solar capacity: These states currently possess a higher solar capacity compared to others.
      • Therefore, they are expected to generate a larger amount of solar power waste.

• Expansion of Solar Capacity in Targeted States:

  • Plan for Extension of solar capacity: The five high solar producing states have plans for extensive expansion of their solar capacity in the coming years.
    • This expansion can cause a higher rate of solar waste production from these states.

Recommendations to Manage Solar Waste

• Database Maintenance:

  • Policymakers are urged to maintain a comprehensive database of installed solar capacity to estimate future solar waste accurately.

• Incentivizing Recyclers:

  • Policymakers should provide incentives to recyclers to encourage effective management of growing solar power waste.

• Creating a Market for Solar Recycling:

  • India has been urged to focus on establishing a market for solar recycling 
  • Solar waste can be generated through other ways too. Therefore, Solar waste generation is not just a future problem but a current concern that requires immediate attention.

• Approaches to Recycling: 

  • The report indicated two ways for recycling solar panels. 
    • Conventional Recycling:
      • It is also known as bulk material recycling. 
      • It Involves mechanical processes like crushing, sieving, and shearing of waste.
      • While it can recycle materials like glass, aluminium, and copper, valuable materials like silver and silicon cannot be recovered through this method.
    • High-Value Recycling:
      • It uses a combination of mechanical, chemical, and thermal processes for recycling.
      • Unlike conventional methods, high-value recycling can recover materials like silver and silicon through chemical processes.