New Delhi: Attero, an e-waste recycling company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) to jointly work on developing technologies for recycling solar panels in India.
The partnership between Attero and NISE aims to address the emerging challenge of managing solar photovoltaic (PV) waste, which is projected to grow significantly over the next two decades.
Focus on Recycling Infrastructure
The collaboration comes at a time when India is rapidly expanding its solar energy capacity. As of January 2025, the country’s total installed solar capacity stood at 100.33 GW, making up nearly half of its renewable energy mix. However, this growth has also raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the sector, especially in terms of waste management.
Solar panels have a typical lifespan of 20 to 25 years. A large number of panels installed in the last decade are expected to reach their end-of-life phase within the next ten years. Current projections estimate India’s cumulative solar PV waste could hit approximately 600 kilotons by 2030 and surge to around 19,000 kilotons by 2050.
Joint R&D and Testing Initiatives
Under the MoU, Attero and NISE plan to jointly conduct a pilot project using end-of-life panels provided by the institute. The goal is to evaluate and improve the recycling technologies developed by both parties. NISE will offer domain knowledge, technical input, and support for research, while Attero will contribute its experience in recycling lithium-ion batteries and electronic waste.
Both organisations are also considering the establishment of a dedicated research and testing facility at the NISE campus. The proposed centre would focus on solar panel and battery recycling research, with the aim of producing data-driven recommendations for recycling frameworks and standards.
