With booming Solar Industry, comes the fear of piling toxic trash
India is undergoing clean energy transition. Government’s constant endeavour to boost renewable energy, solar adoption have become a priority for climate warriors, government and industrialists. India just announced increasing Product Linked Incentives six times to 24,500 crore to boost domestic manufacturing of solar panels and equipments, pledging to lead the renewable sector transformation and adoption.
This dramatic energy transformation of India is bringing forth a bigger challenge soon - Solar waste management system. India needs to build up the capacity to manage and recycle the solar waste which has potential to end up land fills and cause other pollution.
India is staring at solar waste burst in coming decade
A research held by IIT pointed out India could generate 2.95bn tons of solar waste by 2047, as with the current focus on solar, India could have installed capacity of about 350 GW by 203o, with the average module life expectancy was considered about 25 years till 2014, and 30 years thereafter. There is ambiguity on various operational and peripheral issues – such as how long a module can stay in operational, viability of extraction of materials in recycling, potential dangers and the possibility of modules ending up in landfills.
The IIT paper went on projecting that of 2.95 billion tons of solar waste, critical metals worth around $645 trillion, of which around 70% – $452 trillion worth – could be retrieved and recycled.
Present waste management system
India is yet to get dedicated solar waste management system. Presently solar waste is treated as a general electrical waste, and comes under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The present systems are capital intensive and requires access to financing.
Are there solution to this impending issue
IEA-PVPS, the International agency offers a solution, in one of their recent papers they promote repairing and re-using solar modules, especially for individual users. However, for larger solar system they recommend replacement, as they may have access to better recycling options to incus least harm to the environment. But, the problem is not that simple to solve. This is still emerging industry, many options needs to be tasted to find a viable solution.
Global best practices
No country has achieved considerable success, yet many countries are working on this issue seriously and working various alternatives. There are insurance framework such as pay as you go and pay as you put models, where developers or the insurance companies take care of the collection and solar waste management.
In Japan, NEDO has been undertaking extensive research activities for PV recycling has developed an automated PV recycling technology. There are technology scientists are working on globally to make solar recycling profitable, extracting pure silicon to be used in new modules. Indian institutes are joining hands and scientific research but it needs substantial boost from government as well industries.
What India needs
To achieve the best disposal methods, R&D investments will be necessary. India needs a dedicated department, and a policy framework for recycling of solar modules and equipments .
India needs a market driven approach to promote and establish a solar waste management system. India needs to come up with some economic incentives and policies to attract the solar players and other potential participants, India may also look at international collaborations and FDI to align the life-cycle management of solar modules and equipments to keep the environmental goals intact.
The wave of discarded solar trash is about to hit the shore, India needs to prepare fast.
This dramatic energy transformation of India is bringing forth a bigger challenge soon - Solar waste management system. India needs to build up the capacity to manage and recycle the solar waste which has potential to end up land fills and cause other pollution.
India is staring at solar waste burst in coming decade
A research held by IIT pointed out India could generate 2.95bn tons of solar waste by 2047, as with the current focus on solar, India could have installed capacity of about 350 GW by 203o, with the average module life expectancy was considered about 25 years till 2014, and 30 years thereafter. There is ambiguity on various operational and peripheral issues – such as how long a module can stay in operational, viability of extraction of materials in recycling, potential dangers and the possibility of modules ending up in landfills.
The IIT paper went on projecting that of 2.95 billion tons of solar waste, critical metals worth around $645 trillion, of which around 70% – $452 trillion worth – could be retrieved and recycled.
Present waste management system
India is yet to get dedicated solar waste management system. Presently solar waste is treated as a general electrical waste, and comes under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The present systems are capital intensive and requires access to financing.
Are there solution to this impending issue
IEA-PVPS, the International agency offers a solution, in one of their recent papers they promote repairing and re-using solar modules, especially for individual users. However, for larger solar system they recommend replacement, as they may have access to better recycling options to incus least harm to the environment. But, the problem is not that simple to solve. This is still emerging industry, many options needs to be tasted to find a viable solution.
Global best practices
No country has achieved considerable success, yet many countries are working on this issue seriously and working various alternatives. There are insurance framework such as pay as you go and pay as you put models, where developers or the insurance companies take care of the collection and solar waste management.
In Japan, NEDO has been undertaking extensive research activities for PV recycling has developed an automated PV recycling technology. There are technology scientists are working on globally to make solar recycling profitable, extracting pure silicon to be used in new modules. Indian institutes are joining hands and scientific research but it needs substantial boost from government as well industries.
What India needs
To achieve the best disposal methods, R&D investments will be necessary. India needs a dedicated department, and a policy framework for recycling of solar modules and equipments .
India needs a market driven approach to promote and establish a solar waste management system. India needs to come up with some economic incentives and policies to attract the solar players and other potential participants, India may also look at international collaborations and FDI to align the life-cycle management of solar modules and equipments to keep the environmental goals intact.
The wave of discarded solar trash is about to hit the shore, India needs to prepare fast.
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