New Delhi [India], November 6 (ANI): Recovering and reusing materials from discarded solar panels could become a Rs 3,700 crore market opportunity in 2047, according to two new independent studies released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). The studies also indicate that recycling valuable materials such as silicon, copper, aluminium, and silver from solar waste could supply 38 per cent of the sector’s manufacturing inputs in 2047, while avoiding 37 million tonnes of carbon emissions by replacing virgin resources with recycled ones.
Currently, India’s solar module recycling market is in its infancy, with only a few commercial recyclers operating. The twin CEEW studies provide the first comprehensive blueprint for developing a domestic solar recycling ecosystem that supports clean energy and manufacturing self-reliance. By 2047, India’s installed solar capacity could generate over 11 million tonnes of solar waste, primarily from crystalline-silicon modules. Managing this would require nearly 300 recycling plants and an estimated investment of Rs 4,200 crore.
Rishabh Jain, fellow at CEEW, said, “India’s solar revolution can power a new green industrial opportunity. By embedding circularity into our clean energy systems, we can recover critical minerals, strengthen supply chains, and create green jobs—while turning potential waste into lasting value. Building this circular economy is crucial for India’s resilient and responsible growth.”
The study notes that solar recycling remains unviable today, with recyclers facing losses of Rs 10,000–12,000 per tonne. The largest operational cost is buying back waste modules, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total expenses (around Rs 600 per panel), followed by processing, collection, and disposal costs. For recycling to become profitable, modules would need to be priced below Rs 330, or recyclers supported through EPR certificate trading, tax incentives, and R&D investments in efficient recovery of silicon and silver.
Akanksha Tyagi, Programme Lead at CEEW, added, “Solar recycling can bridge India’s clean energy and manufacturing ambitions. Beyond managing waste, it’s an opportunity to innovate—by designing panels for easier recovery, improving material purity, and creating new value chains around critical minerals. Introducing EPR targets, creating demand for circular products, improving data transparency, and designing for recyclability could turn India’s solar waste challenge into a green industry opportunity.”
The CEEW studies recommend establishing EPR targets for collection and recovery under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with a Circular Solar Taskforce under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to align policy, finance, and industry action. They also propose a centralised solar inventory to identify waste hotspots and urge producers to share material data and design modules for easy disassembly.
These steps aim to build robust collection systems, spur R&D in material recovery, and embed circularity into India’s renewable energy mission—ensuring a resource-resilient and self-sustaining clean energy transition. (ANI)
About The Author
