As India accelerates its clean energy transition, a new challenge is on the horizon — solar waste. According to recent studies by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), the country could generate up to 11 million tonnes of discarded solar panels by 2047, largely from crystalline-silicon modules. Managing this waste responsibly would require nearly 300 recycling facilities and an estimated ₹4,200 crore investment, the studies note. If managed well, however, solar waste could unlock a ₹3,700-crore circular economy opportunity, helping India recover valuable materials such as silicon, copper, aluminium, and silver. These could supply up to 38% of future solar manufacturing inputs and prevent 37 million tonnes of carbon emissions by reducing dependence on virgin resources.
At present, India’s solar recycling market is still in its infancy, with only a few recyclers operating and high costs making the process commercially unviable. To make recycling profitable, the reports recommend Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms, tax incentives, and R&D investments in efficient material recovery.
CEEW researchers, including Rishabh Jain and Akanksha Tyagi, call solar recycling a bridge between India’s clean energy and manufacturing ambitions — turning waste into an engine for innovation, green jobs, and supply chain resilience.
The studies also urge policymakers to introduce EPR targets, establish a Circular Solar Taskforce, and create a centralised solar inventory to identify waste hotspots and track end-of-life panels.
