India’s rapid solar expansion earns global praise. Yet behind the progress, a serious environmental problem is emerging.
In just over a decade, India became the world’s third-largest solar power producer. Renewable energy now drives national climate strategy. Solar panels stretch across massive parks and rooftop systems in cities, towns, and villages.
Large utility-scale projects supply most solar electricity. Millions of rooftop systems also feed power into the grid. Government data show nearly 2.4 million households adopted solar under subsidy programmes.
Solar growth reduced dependence on coal-fired power. Thermal and other non-renewables still supply over half of installed capacity. Solar now contributes more than 20 percent of electricity. This achievement comes with a growing disposal challenge.
Clean Energy, Complex Afterlife
Solar panels produce clean electricity during operation. Their disposal can harm the environment if mismanaged.
Panels consist mainly of glass, aluminium, silver, and polymers. They also contain small amounts of toxic metals. Lead and cadmium can contaminate soil and water if handled improperly.
Most panels last around 25 years. Owners then remove and discard them. India has no dedicated recycling budget. Only a few small facilities currently handle retired panels.
India provides no official data on solar waste volumes. One estimate placed waste near 100,000 tonnes by 2023. Projections suggest 600,000 tonnes by 2030. Experts warn the largest surge is yet to come.
The Looming Waste Wave
Specialists caution that the main impact will arrive in the next decade. Without early investment, recycling systems may fail.
The Council on Energy, Environment and Water projects India could generate more than 11 million tonnes of solar waste by 2047. Managing this would require nearly 300 recycling facilities. Investment needs could reach 478 million dollars.
Most large solar parks were built in the mid-2010s. The main waste wave will hit in 10 to 15 years, says Rohit Pahwa of Targray. Immediate planning is critical.
India’s projections reflect global trends. The United States could generate 170,000–1 million tonnes by 2030. China could approach one million tonnes after similar expansion.
Policy Struggling to Keep Pace
Countries manage solar waste under very different systems. Regulation often trails the pace of installation.
In the United States, recycling depends largely on market forces. State rules create fragmented oversight. China, like India, continues developing its framework. Both lack fully mature national systems.
India included solar panels under electronic waste rules in 2022. Manufacturers must collect, dismantle, and recycle panels at end of life. Enforcement remains uneven.
Experts highlight gaps in household installations. Home systems represent five to ten percent of capacity. These units remain difficult to track and recycle. Their combined waste still poses challenges.
From Rooftops to Landfills
Broken or discarded panels often end up in landfills. Others move through informal recycling channels. Unsafe methods can release toxic substances. Authorities have not provided detailed public updates.
Environmental expert Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka warns against misplaced confidence. Solar energy appears clean for two decades. Without recycling, it could leave abandoned modules behind.
Challenges also create economic opportunities. Rising waste will boost demand for specialised recycling firms, Pahwa says.
Efficient recycling could reclaim 38 percent of materials by 2047. It could also prevent 37 million tonnes of emissions from mining. The CEEW study highlights these benefits.
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 practices remain basic. Operators recover mostly low-value materials. Precious metals often disappear or yield minimal returns.
A Decade That Will Shape India’s Solar Future
Experts say the next ten years will define India’s solar legacy. The country must build a regulated recycling system. Public awareness must rise. Waste collection must integrate into solar business models.
Companies profiting from solar power should manage panels after failure, Nakka argues. Responsibility should not end at installation.
Without proper recycling, today’s clean energy could become tomorrow’s waste crisis.
