India is paving the way forward to bring sustainable and clean electricity to millions. The real thrust on clean energy came with the launch of the National Solar Mission in 2010. As part of the mission, over 1,600MW of grid connected systems and 253MW off-grid systems were installed and commissioned during 2010-2013, during the phase 1.The phase 2 of this mission will steer the pumping of 800MW of off-grid systems, primarily in rural areas. It is now time to address the elephant in the room. A 2016 report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects India as the producer of over 78 million tonnes of solar e-waste by 2050. While solar technologies enable us to generate enormous amounts of green energy, the components used for generating electricity are themselves not biodegradable. Hence, proper handling of components, after their useful life is over, becomes imperative. At present, the business doesn’t find solar waste management a very lucrative opportunity. In the current situation, it is mostly the unorganized waste collectors who are interested in aggregating e-waste, including panels and batteries. This is evident from the fact that, by the end of last year, there were less than 200 recyclers and dismantlers of e-waste registered with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India. India has set an example by leading the green energy revolution. It is now time for the country to become an early starter by setting up mechanisms for solar waste management at an early stage; and the efforts in the country have already started.

(Financial Express)