Have you ever thought about what happens to a solar panel when it’s no longer in use? Is solar energy truly sustainable if we don’t know how to recycle it? And where do old or broken solar panels even go?
Well, the Gujarat government is now trying to answer those questions with action.
The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has started an effort to tackle solar waste. It has invited research groups to study how to safely and effectively recycle old solar panels and electronic waste. The goal is to recover important materials like silicon, copper, aluminium, and even rare metals from these used-up panels.
This is important because India is installing solar panels at a fast pace. But very soon, many of these panels will reach the end of their life. If they are not handled properly, they can create a big waste problem. A report by CEEW says that India’s solar waste could rise from 100 kilotonnes in 2023 to 340 kilotonnes by 2030.
GEDA’s plan includes collecting damaged panels, breaking them down safely, and testing different recycling methods like shredding, melting, and chemical separation. They want to make a detailed report that shows the best ways to do this and create rules to keep the work safe for both people and the environment.
This research will also follow national guidelines under the Ministry of Power’s waste management rules. It will help create clear policies and processes for dealing with solar waste, not just in Gujarat, but across India.
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