India’s rapid solar expansion earns global praise. Yet the transition raises questions about waste and long-term cleanliness.
In just over a decade, India became the world’s third-largest solar power producer. Renewables now sit at the heart of its climate strategy. Solar panels spread across massive parks and blue rooftops in cities, towns, and villages.
Large solar parks dominate deserts and plains. Millions of rooftop systems also feed electricity into the national grid. Government figures show nearly 2.4 million households adopted rooftop solar through subsidies.
Solar growth reduced India’s dependence on coal. Thermal and other non-renewables still provide over half of installed capacity. Solar power now contributes more than 20 percent. This success carries a challenge beyond electricity generation.
Clean Power With Risky Afterlife
Solar panels produce clean energy during use. Poor handling after retirement can create environmental risks.
Manufacturers build panels mainly from glass, aluminium, silver, and polymers. Panels also contain trace toxic metals. Lead and cadmium can contaminate soil and water if mishandled.
Solar panels usually operate for about 25 years. Owners then remove and discard them. India lacks a dedicated budget for solar recycling. Only a few small facilities process old panels today.
India holds no official data on solar waste volumes. One study estimated about 100,000 tonnes by 2023. That figure could reach 600,000 tonnes by 2030. Current volumes remain modest, but experts expect rapid growth.
A Waste Wave Yet to Come
Experts warn the largest surge still lies ahead. Without swift investment, India could face a serious waste crisis.
A study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water estimates massive future volumes. India could generate more than 11 million tonnes of solar waste by 2047. Managing this would require nearly 300 recycling facilities. The study projects investment needs of 478 million dollars over two decades.
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. Planning must begin now, he adds.
India’s projections reflect global trends. The United States could generate between 170,000 and one million tonnes by 2030. China could approach one million tonnes within the same period.
Different Rules, Shared Gaps
Countries handle solar waste under very different systems. Regulation shapes outcomes as much as technology.
In the United States, recycling largely follows market forces. State-level rules create a fragmented framework. China, like India, still builds its regulatory approach. Neither country yet operates a fully dedicated national system.
India brought solar panels under electronic waste rules in 2022. The rules make manufacturers responsible for collection, storage, dismantling, and recycling. Enforcement remains uneven across regions.
Experts highlight problems with household and small-scale systems. These installations account for five to ten percent of capacity. They remain harder to track, collect, and recycle. Their combined waste still adds up.
Gaps on the Ground
Damaged or discarded panels often reach landfills. Others move through unauthorised recyclers. Unsafe methods can release toxic materials into the environment. Authorities have yet to comment publicly on these concerns.
Environmental expert Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka warns of long-term consequences. Solar power looks clean for two decades, he says. Without recycling plans, it may leave fields of discarded modules.
Despite risks, experts also see opportunity. Rising waste will increase demand for skilled recycling companies, Pahwa says.
Efficient recycling could reclaim 38 percent of materials by 2047. It could also avoid 37 million tonnes of carbon emissions from mining. The CEEW study highlights these benefits.
India already supports markets for glass and aluminium. Recycling can also recover silicon, silver, and copper. These materials can serve new panels or other industries, says study co-author Akansha Tyagi.
Today, most recycling relies on basic methods. Operators recover low-value materials like glass and aluminium. Precious metals often disappear, degrade, or yield minimal returns.
A Decade That Will Decide
Experts call the next ten years decisive for India’s solar future. The country must build a regulated and self-sustaining recycling system. Awareness among households must rise. Solar business models must include waste collection.
Companies that profit from solar power should also manage panel disposal, Nakka argues. Responsibility should not end when panels stop working.
Without proper recycling, today’s clean energy could become tomorrow’s waste, he warns.
