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Sarangi On Solar PV Assets

New Delhi: Secretary, MNRE, Shri Santosh Sarangi has initiated an effort to gather insights from the industry to help create a sustainable and circular framework for managing solar PV assets at the end of their lifespan.

A meeting focused on Industry Consultation for Solar PV Circularity was convened today at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), led by the Secretary, MNRE, Shri Sarangi.

During the discussion, the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) presented a detailed overview of the current recycling scenario. This included a look at existing electronic waste management practices, new technologies for solar module recycling, and the current gaps in policy and institutional support.

The conversation highlighted three essential steps for improving circularity in the solar sector:

  1. Incorporating circular design principles throughout the solar value chain to encourage the reuse, refurbishment, and recovery of valuable materials.
  2. Providing support for technology development and pilot projects that can showcase effective, scalable, and resource-efficient recycling methods for PV modules.
  3. Creating a dedicated institutional structure, such as a Circular Solar Task Force, to guide policy, set standards, and facilitate industry collaboration on circular economy practices.

The Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) emphasized the immediate necessity for innovation in module design to enhance material recovery, particularly for glass, which they noted remains the most difficult component to recycle efficiently.

The meeting ended with a request for all stakeholders to submit specific recommendations and collaborative strategies to put a complete circularity roadmap into action for India’s solar PV sector.