Sustainability Through Circularity: Beyond Solar Energy

Recycled panels are not just waste; they are a source of critical materials. Recovering silicon, glass, aluminium, copper, silver and other materials can significantly lessen imports and environmental impact.

January 21, 2026. By News Bureau

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Recycling technologies

As solar has become ubiquitous, new priorities are coming into focus. From massive parks to rural farms, the sheer scale and longevity of solar power mean that lifecycle issues can no longer be an afterthought. India’s PV capacity is planned to roughly double again by 2030 (under the 500 GW renewables goal), which implies that tens of thousands of tons of modules will eventually retire each year.

Analysts project India may generate on the order of 1-2 million tons of solar panel waste by 2040, rising to several million tons under accelerated-degradation scenarios that we are experiencing on-ground. A 2025 CEEW study estimates cumulative waste could reach 11.2 million tons by 2047 – a legacy that must be managed sustainably.

This shifting focus from merely ‘adding capacity’ to responsibly managing what comes after is underpinned by broader circular-economy thinking. Recycled panels are not just waste; they are a source of critical materials. Recovering silicon, glass, aluminium, copper, silver and other materials can significantly lessen imports and environmental impact. In fact, CEEW finds that if India fully recycles its PV waste by 2047, roughly 60 percent of the country’s silicon demand and about 50 percent of its aluminium demand (among other materials) could be met from recycled modules. This reduces pressure on supply chains – especially important given that, as of 2023, China supplied over 80 percent of the world’s polysilicon and 77–84 percent of PV cells and modules – and supports energy security by creating domestic sources for key inputs.

Solar developers, manufacturers and utilities are increasingly aware of end‑of‑life issues: panels may be redeployed (for example, used panels can be refurbished or repurposed for low-demand applications), and at the end of life, they must be handled safely. In 2022, the government extended its E‑waste (Management and Handling) Rules to cover solar PV modules, mandating that manufacturers and importers register on a national EPR portal and store discarded solar modules securely (essentially reserving waste on-site) until 2034–35. Regulation has laid the groundwork for the storage, handling, and transportation of solar waste as per the latest CPCB guidelines; however, more work is required on the recycling aspect. In 2026, India is moving toward a regulated framework where solar waste is treated with the same rigour as e‑waste or battery waste, closing loopholes in earlier policies.

Innovation and Industry Responses

The convergence of policy and industry need is driving investment and innovation in solar lifecycle management. New recycling technologies and business models are emerging. Some startups have developed thermal-chemical processes to break down end-of-life solar panels and recover high-purity materials. This is one example of an industry-led initiative, working towards partnering with all stakeholders from formal sector module manufacturers, EPCs, and asset owners to informal scrappers and traders.

At the same time, companies are finding value beyond recycling alone. Businesses are exploring the refurbishment of older panels (repairing or reassembling panels for a second life) and design-for-disassembly of new products. These approaches keep panels in use longer and reduce waste. Overall, the blend of clean‑tech entrepreneurship, equipment innovation, and growing regulatory clarity is maturing the solar ecosystem. The narrative is shifting from just ‘how fast can we add GW’ to ‘how well can we manage each panel’s journey from cradle to grave (or next life)’.

Looking Ahead to 2026: Scaling up Sustainability

As 2026 approaches, India’s solar sector faces both opportunities and challenges. Technology improvements will help: higher-efficiency panels and module durability standards mean fewer early failures, and better recycling processes (e.g. advanced mechanical sorting, chemical leaching techniques or laser ablation) promise higher recoveries at lower cost. For example, some startups in Australia and Italy are working on more eco-effective high-value silver extraction processes, such as using flotation or ultrasound. However, these innovations must be paired with robust scale-up. India will need many more authorised recycling plants and trained dismantling centres. Building reverse logistics routes for used panels to travel from the rooftop or field back to recyclers is critical. States and cities may establish aggregation centres for retired PV, similar to battery or e-waste depots.

Regulation is likely to tighten further. Experts have urged that EPR targets specifically for solar waste be introduced by 2027, rather than relying only on storage rules. We expect solar panel manufacturers (and even project developers) will soon face recycling volume quotas or recovery-rate mandates as part of their compliance. The 2026-27 policy announcements will set the pace. Indeed, stakeholder reports have already pushed for rules whereby a certain percentage of decommissioned modules must be recycled each year, reinforcing the government’s waste-minimisation commitments.

Finally, underlying all this is the scale of India’s clean energy ambitions. The country has pledged 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 – roughly 300 GW of which is solar. Meeting that target means not only installing panels rapidly but also preparing for their eventual retirement. If installed solar doubles or triples in the next 5–8 years, even a 25-year panel lifespan implies a wave of recycling needs in the 2030s. Acting now is far easier than scrambling later. India’s solar success story has a built-in time bomb that must be diffused by building the necessary recycling infrastructure, else this wave of waste will be detrimental to the nation.

Unlike nations like the US, Italy, Germany and Australia, where solar recyclers get paid a takeback fee for waste management services, Indian recyclers need to pay to procure waste modules. This makes it even more important for our recycling startups to build capacities with higher-value recovery and purity to enable successful unit economics. We should lay emphasis on funding deep-tech research and development to supplement process optimisation, along with strengthening supply chains through better reverse logistics and procurement strategies.

Overall, India’s solar expansion has entered a new phase. The focus is broadening from capacity and cost to include durability, materials recovery, and end-of-life stewardship. Policymakers, researchers and entrepreneurs are all recalibrating toward a truly sustainable paradigm. Companies like Beyond Renewables exemplify this shift – pairing innovative recycling technology with strategic partnerships to ensure that solar growth does not become an environmental liability. As Energetica India readers know, long-term industry vitality depends on circular practices as much as on installed capacity. By investing in recycling infrastructure, refining regulations, and fostering clean-tech solutions, India can ensure its 2026 solar outlook is not only bright but also green and resilient for decades to come.

- Manhar Dixit, CEO, Beyond Renewables