India's rapid solar expansion may not be entirely sunny. Experts warn that it may compromise sustainability due to increasing waste from solar panels, challenging effective management and recycling efforts
Experts have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of solar power in India might jeopardise the country's sustainability goals. India, aiming for net zero emissions by 2070, has already installed 84.28 GW of solar capacity, with another 55.60 GW under construction. The nation ranks third globally in energy consumption, with coal contributing over half of its energy needs. Additionally, India relies on imports for 90 percent of its oil and 80 percent of its industrial coal.
Over the past decade, India has significantly increased its renewable energy output, with a 21 percent rise in generation from 2014 to 2023. The government aims to triple renewable capacity to 500 GW by 2030, with solar power expected to contribute more than half of this. To support this goal, India has established 12 large solar parks and plans to build 39 more across 12 states by 2026.
However, this surge in solar energy brings environmental challenges, according to a recent report published in Fair Planet. The increase in solar plants has led to a rise in waste from components such as glass, aluminium, silicon, and rare-earth elements, which poses a growing environmental threat. Waste generated during the manufacturing of solar cells, operational damage, and low production efficiency are key issues.
By 2024, India's solar capacity has already produced about 100 kilotonnes of waste, with projections indicating this could exceed 600 kilotonnes by 2030. According to a 2024 study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), waste volumes could soar to approximately 19,000 kilotonnes by 2050. About 67 percent of this waste is expected to come from five states—Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh—home to eight of the ten largest solar parks in India, which plan to expand their solar capacity significantly.
Energy specialists are concerned that managing this growing solar waste could become increasingly difficult. Ankansha Tyagi, a programme lead at CEEW, warns that the rapid increase in solar installations and domestic production of solar cells and modules could result in a dramatic rise in waste.
While India lacks formal recycling facilities for solar waste, informal operators have stepped in to manage the recycling process. These workers face risks dismantling and recycling panels without institutional support. A company awaits approval from the state's pollution control board to set up a dedicated solar waste plant, viewing it as a potential market for recycling firms.
India’s E-Waste Management Rules 2022, which came into effect last April, require solar panel manufacturers to handle the disposal and recycling of their products. This includes collecting, storing, and dismantling panels, as well as establishing recycling facilities. Manufacturers must also store panel and cell waste until 2035. By that time, an estimated 187,200 units of solar photovoltaic (PV) waste are expected to require disposal and recycling, based on installations up to 2015 and the 20-year lifespan of PV modules.
These regulations are the first to mandate responsible handling of e-waste from solar photovoltaic modules, panels, and cells. However, the implementation of these rules is ongoing. Currently, the data on the amount of PV waste being disposed of or recycled remains scarce, as much is treated as electronic waste. Meanwhile, electric batteries and other components are recycled under the Battery Waste Management Rules.