Solar panel waste to increase to 11 million MT by 2047: Experts at GREENS 2026 Summit in Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar: India could generate nearly 11 million metric tonnes (MT) of solar-panel waste by 2047 amid rapid expansion in renewable-energy capacity, warned industry experts on Friday, while calling for a dedicated recycling ecosystem and policy support for the sector. They were present at a session on ‘Solar EPR – Closing the Warehousing Loophole Before the Crisis Arrives’ at the GREENS 2026 Summit in Gandhinagar.

Solar industry experts called for a dedicated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for solar-panel waste, warning that India risks facing a massive recycling crisis as renewable energy capacity expands rapidly.

Ajinkya Kale, programme associate at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), said India currently generates around 1 lakh MT of solar panel waste annually, and the figure is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. “EPR is a good start but that alone will not be enough. An ecosystem for recycling solar panel waste needs to be set up,” he said.

“Solar panel waste must be treated as industrial waste and not e-waste. The existing e-waste framework may not be adequate to deal with the scale and complexity of solar-panel disposal expected in future,” Jaideep Malaviya, a solar energy consultant, who moderated the panel, told TOI.

Speakers also highlighted the financial and logistical burden associated with collection, transportation and segregation of discarded panels. Satyanarayan Nayak, general manager (sustainability) at Waaree Energies, said, “Handling solar panel waste would require collaboration across the value chain and substantial investments in logistics and recycling infrastructure. This cannot be handled individually or in isolation. Handling 1 million discarded solar panels could translate into nearly 35,000MT of waste and require more than 1,400 containers for transportation and accumulation. The infrastructure required for segregation and recycling would significantly increase operational costs, making govt intervention necessary for the industry’s viability.”

Arun KA, director (energy, resource and industrial solutions) at Deloitte India, said logistics would remain a major challenge in implementing solar EPR effectively. “More intermediary stakeholders and govt support mechanisms will be needed for this ecosystem to function efficiently,” he said.