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India’s rapidly expanding solar sector is expected to generate significant waste over the coming years, prompting the government to strengthen policy and institutional frameworks for recycling and circular economy practices.
According to an estimate supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and developed by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), cumulative waste from existing and projected solar capacity installations in India could reach approximately 600 kilo-tonnes by 2030.
The information was recently shared by Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Solar PV panels contain materials such as glass, aluminium, silicon, and trace metals, which require proper handling and recycling to minimise environmental risks and recover valuable resources.
India’s aggressive renewable energy expansion in recent years is bound to result in an increase in solar photovoltaic (PV) waste. As installations scale up, the lifecycle management of solar panels—particularly at end-of-life—has emerged as a key environmental and regulatory concern.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. These rules cover the environmentally sound management of e-waste generated from electrical and electronic equipment, including solar PV panels.
An online Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Portal for e-waste management has also been made operational by the Central Pollution Control Board. The platform is designed to ensure accountability across the value chain, requiring producers to manage the collection and recycling of end-of-life products.
The Indian government has introduced several initiatives to promote domestic recycling capacity and support circular economy practices in the clean energy sector:
Circular Economy Committees: The Government of India has constituted committees to develop action plans for transitioning from a linear to a circular economy across 11 focus areas, including solar panels. MNRE has also set up a dedicated committee on the circular economy in solar panels.
Innovation Challenge: MNRE launched the “Innovation Challenge for Circularity in Renewable Energy Technologies – Batteries and Solar Photovoltaic” under the Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development (RE-RTD) programme. The initiative supports research into recycling, second-life applications, and circular design.
DST Research Call: The Department of Science and Technology issued a call for proposals on “Recovery and Recycling of End-of-Life Solar PV Panels/Modules,” encouraging academia–industry collaboration to develop commercially viable recycling technologies.
Recycling Incentive Scheme: The Ministry of Mines has launched a recycling incentive scheme with an outlay of INR 1,500 crore under the National Critical Mineral Mission. The scheme aims to build domestic capabilities for recovering critical minerals from e-waste, lithium-ion battery waste, and end-of-life vehicle components.
These initiatives collectively reflect a broader policy shift towards embedding circular economy principles in India’s clean energy transition. By promoting recycling infrastructure, innovation, and regulatory oversight, the government aims to mitigate the environmental impact of solar waste while strengthening resource security.
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