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India may have to deal with millions of tons of renewable energy waste


India is facing an emerging environmental challenge as a result of waste generated by decommissioned renewable energy components. Experts warn that millions of tons of these discarded materials could accumulate in the country, as government officials attempt to identify solutions.

Currently, India generates approximately 100 kilotons of waste annually from solar energy products alone. To put this into perspective, that is roughly equivalent to the weight of 1,000 blue whales, the heaviest animal on Earth. This volume is expected to grow exponentially as solar panels that were installed in recent years start getting retired, with estimates suggesting that the annual waste from this renewable energy source could more than triple by the end of this decade.

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Solar panels are not the only concern. Wind turbines, electric vehicles (EVs) and other clean energy systems nearing the end of their lifespans are also adding to the pile. However, it has been estimated that nearly 90% of clean energy waste materials in India can be recycled and repurposed to create new renewable infrastructure.

The Indian government has included solar, wind and EV components in its electronic waste regulations, mandating their recycling. However, stakeholders in India’s renewable energy sector argue that these regulations lack clarity and actionable guidelines. Industry officials are urging the government to develop a comprehensive recycling strategy for renewables, without which they fear the country will be among the world’s biggest producers of this type of waste.

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[Jack]

THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION COULD END UP CREATING MILLIONS OF TONS OF WASTE IN INDIA.

NOW THERE ARE EFFORTS UNDERWAY WITHIN THE COUNTRY TO REPURPOSE SOME OF THAT TRASH.

RECENTLY, INDIA HAS BEEN PRODUCING 100 KILOTONS OF WASTE FROM SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTS ALONE EVERY YEAR-

THAT’S A WEIGHT EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT ONE THOUSAND BLUE WHALES, THE HEAVIEST ANIMAL ON THE PLANET.

IT’S A PROBLEM THAT’S ONLY EXPECTED TO GROW IN THE COMING YEARS.

OVER THE NEXT DECADE EVEN MORE SOLAR PANELS WILL NEED TO BE RETIRED-

WHICH BY SOME ESTIMATES WILL MORE THAN TRIPLE THE CURRENT ANNUAL TRASH OUTPUT IN INDIA FROM THIS GREEN POWER SOURCE.

AND ITS NOT JUST SOLAR PANELS-

DECOMMISSIONED WIND TURBINES, USED ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND OTHER TYPES OF OLDER RENEWABLE ENERGY ARE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE WASTE PROBLEM.

BUT ALL THAT GARBAGE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE GIVEN A SECOND LIFE.

EXPERTS BELIEVE NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF DISCARDED CLEAN ENERGY MATERIALS IN INDIA CAN BE RECYCLED AND USED TO MAKE MORE RENEWABLES.

THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT HAS INCLUDED SOLAR, WIND AND EV COMPONENTS IN ITS ELECTRONIC WASTE REGULATIONS-

CALLING FOR PRODUCERS TO RECYCLE THESE COMPONENTS.

HOWEVER, THOSE WITHIN THE COUNTRY’S RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR SAYS THERE’S LITTLE CLARITY ABOUT HOW EXACTLY THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS.

INDUSTRY OFFICIALS ARE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY ON CLEAN ENERGY RECYCLING EFFORTS.

WITHOUT THIS, THEY FEAR INDIA COULD BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST PRODUCERS OF RENEWABLE WASTE.

TO GET MORE UPDATES ABOUT HOW THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION IS GOING WORLDWIDE-

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