A study revealed that in the financial year 2022-2023, India generated approximately 100 kilotons (kt) of solar waste. The figure is projected to escalate to 600 kt by the year 2030. The surge in solar waste is attributed to India’s burgeoning solar capacity, which stood at 66.7 gigawatts (GW) as of March 2023, marking a twenty-three fold increase over the past decade. By 2030, India aims to elevate its installed solar capacity to 292 GW. Consequently, effective management of solar waste becomes imperative for environmental, economic, and social reasons.
Solar waste encompasses waste generated during both the manufacturing of solar modules and throughout their operational lifespan in the field. The manufacturing process yields two types of waste: scrap and waste from photovoltaic (PV) modules that fail quality tests. On the other hand, field waste comprises three categories: waste from transportation and handling, damage incurred during the modules operational lifespan, and end-of-life disposal.
As reported by The Indian Express, the study primarily focuses on field waste, excluding waste generated during manufacturing. By 2030, India’s solar capacity is estimated to generate about 340 kt of waste, triple the current amount. Approximately 67% of the waste is anticipated to originate from five states – Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, owing to their substantial solar capacities. By 2030, the cumulative waste from both existing and new capacity is expected to reach 600 kt. This figure is projected to surge to about 19,000 kt by 2050, with 77% of it stemming from newly installed capacities.
Given that discarded solar modules contain critical minerals like silicon, copper, tellurium, and cadmium – classified as essential for India’s economic development and national security – the study highlighted their significance. It predicts that by 2030, the 340 kt of waste will include approximately 10 kt of silicon, 12-18 tons of silver, and 16 tons of cadmium and tellurium.
