Solar Waste Management | 04 Apr 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, a report titled 'Enabling a Circular Economy in India’s Solar Industry – Assessing the Solar Waste Quantum' shed light on India's escalating solar waste crisis.

• The study was conducted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in collaboration with experts from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (a leading not-for-profit policy research institution in Asia)

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• Solar Waste Projection: The current solar capacity of India, as of FY23, has generated about 100 kilotonnes (kt) of cumulative waste, which will increase to 340 kt by 2030.
  • This volume will increase 32 times by 2050 resulting in about 19000 kt of cumulative waste.
  • 77% of the cumulative waste generated by 2050 will be due to new capacities.
• State-wise Contribution: Around 67% of the projected waste by 2030 is expected to be produced by five states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Rajasthan will account for 24% of the waste generated by 2030, followed by Gujarat accounting for 16%, and Karnataka accounting for 12%.
• Critical Minerals Content: Discarded solar modules contain critical minerals essential for India's economic development and national security, including silicon, copper, tellurium, and cadmium.
  • The projected 340 kt of waste by 2030 is estimated to comprise 10 kt of silicon, 12-18 tonnes of silver, and 16 tonnes of cadmium and tellurium.
• Recommendations:
  • The MNRE should maintain and periodically update a database of the installed solar capacity (containing details such as module technology, manufacturer, commissioning date, etc.) for accurate mapping of plausible waste generation centres.
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change should issue guidelines for collecting and storing solar waste.
    • Furthermore, it should promote the safe and efficient processing of stored waste.
  • Solar cell and module producers should start developing waste collection and storage centres to adhere to the responsibilities assigned in the Electronic Waste Management Rules 2022.

What is Solar Waste?

• About: Solar waste is any waste generated during the manufacturing of solar modules, or discarded modules and scrap from manufacturing processes.
  • Modules are discarded at the end of their functional life or due to damages from transportation, handling, and installation.
  • Improper handling and landfilling of solar waste should be avoided. Proper treatment is necessary to reclaim valuable minerals and prevent the leaching of toxic materials like lead and cadmium.
• Potential Recyclability of Solar Waste: Approximately 80% of solar panel components, including glass and metal frames, are recyclable, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
  • Solar waste can be recycled to recover materials like glass, aluminium, copper, silicon and silver.
  • Recycling can be broadly categorised into mechanical, thermal and chemical processes.
    • Each process helps in the recovery of specific minerals of varying purity grades.
• Challenges of Solar Waste Recycling in India:
  • Lack of Policy Framework: The absence of specific comprehensive laws governing solar waste management hinders the establishment of standardised recycling practices and may contribute to inconsistent recycling efforts.
  • Complex Composition & Difficulty in Separation: Solar panels contain various materials like silicon, glass, aluminium, and toxic elements like lead and cadmium.
    • Separating these components for effective recycling requires specialised technology, which is often expensive and not widely available in India.
  • Informal Sector Involvement: A large portion of solar waste ends up with informal recyclers who lack proper safety measures and often resort to environmentally harmful practices.
  • Limited Market for Recycled Materials: In India, lack of adequate demand for materials such as silicon wafers or glass cullet from recycled panels undermines the economic feasibility of recycling efforts.

How can India Manage Solar Waste Effectively ?

• Stringent Regulatory Framework: India can create a comprehensive regulatory framework to guide collection, recycling, and material-specific recovery targets for solar waste.
  • The framework can also encourage incentives like green certificates to encourage recycling and mineral recovery.
  • It should also include developing and implementing comprehensive policies to promote circular economy principles within the solar industry, encouraging resource efficiency, recycling, and reuse.
• Formalisation of Informal Recyclers: Integrating informal recyclers into the formal system through training programs and providing them with proper equipment. This ensures safe, environmentally sound practices and also provides them a secured employment.
• Solar Panel Refurbishment and Second Life: . By establishing dedicated refurbishment facilities, India can clean, repair, and retest slightly damaged panels, diverting them from the waste stream and providing affordable options for consumers.
• Solar-waste Entrepreneurship: Encouraging and incentivising green innovators to design and prototype new sustainable products using recycled solar materials, thereby fostering creativity and effective utilisation.