A Comprehensive Recycling Framework and Policy Solutions for Managing Solar Photovoltaic Waste in India

India is among the top five leading countries in solar power installed capacity. Of India’s ambitious target of 500-GW RE capacity by 2030, over 292 GW is likely to be generated using solar power. This increase in installed capacity, while promising, also opens doors to massive waste streams and increased emissions. According to the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy’s (CSTEP’s) analysis, India is projected to generate approximately 4.5 million tonnes of solar photovoltaic (PV) waste by 2050. However, only 20% of solar PV waste is recovered typically, while the rest is disposed of informally. Thus, closing this recovery gap is essential to effectively manage the increasing quantity of solar PV waste.