India’s solar PV Waste Problem: These are the discarded or unusable solar panels and components, which are generated when solar panels reach the end of their useful lives or become damaged. India’s solar PV Waste Problem is also important for UPSC Prelims Exam 2023 and UPSC Mains exam (GS Paper 3- Pollution and various policies and programs to end pollution in India and the world).
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In recent years, policymakers in India have made a significant effort to move towards a circular economy and to facilitate efficient waste management. However, there is still a lack of clear guidelines for managing waste in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry.
India has the fourth highest deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems globally, with an installed capacity of almost 62GW as of November 2022. However, this also means that there is a huge amount of potential solar PV waste in the future.
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The predominant technology used for solar PV installations in India is crystalline silicon (c-Si). A typical PV panel in India is composed of 93% c-Si modules and 7% cadmium telluride thin-film modules.
As solar panels approach the end of their lifespan, certain components of their frames are extracted and sold as scrap, while junctions and cables are recycled in accordance with e-waste guidelines.
India faces a challenge with the increasing amount of informal handling of PV waste, with only about 20% of the waste being formally recovered.
There are three critical steps India should take to improve PV waste management.
It is crucial for India to implement unambiguous policy directives, effective recycling strategies, and increased collaboration at present, to avoid being caught off guard by a future challenge.
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Solar PV waste refers to the discarded or unusable solar panels and components, which are generated when solar panels reach the end of their useful lives or become damaged.
According to a 2016 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, India could generate 50,000-3,25,000 tonnes of PV waste by 2030 and more than four million tonnes by 2050.
A typical solar PV panel consists of crystalline silicon modules, cadmium telluride thin-film modules, an aluminium frame, an encapsulant, a backsheet, copper wires, and silicon wafers. Silver, tin, and lead are used to make crystalline silicon modules, and thin-film modules are made of glass, encapsulant, and compound semiconductors.
Currently, only about 20% of solar PV waste is formally collected and recycled in India, while the rest is treated informally. India faces challenges in collecting, storing, recycling, and repurposing solar PV waste due to a lack of suitable incentives and schemes.
Solar PV waste can release harmful chemicals, such as lead and cadmium, into the environment if not treated properly. Incinerating the encapsulant also releases sulphur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, and hydrogen cyanide into the atmosphere.
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