A Techno - Economic Assessment Of Recycling Solar Panels: A Study On Technologies And Policies For Solar Pv Waste Recycling Opportunities In India

Abstract

The Indian solar story has been of sharp capacity additions over the past 6 years. Countries around the world have observed with keen interest of Indian solar auction tariffs. The Central Government`s lofty ambitions of achieving 100GW of capacity in the form of solar by 2022 has brought with it break neck tempo of installations backed by competitive incentives, enabling infrastructure and States willing to go the extra mile in assembling lank banks to encourage private players in setting up solar power projects While there is substantial scholarship on the benefits of solar photovoltaic energy and many researchers have studied India`s solar push and its encouraging trends, This study focuses on the end of life disposal strategies of obsolete or discarded solar panels. The study suggests that recycling of solar panels is the best way of solar panel waste management. This study brings together the following components of research in order to best answer the question of management of solar panel waste that is projected to rise in India: - A patent analysis on global research and innovation on solar panel recycling - An exploration of Green Funding Mechanisms to fund the absorption of solar panel recycling technologies into India - A study of solar PV and E waste laws and regulations from the top 5 solar markets around the world - A novel tariff structure to be included in the LCOE price of electricity to include the cost of collection and recycling of solar panels using publicly available data The end goal of this study is to start a conversation on the disposal strategies for end of life solar panels and help avert a near future waste management crisis while encouraging the formation of a formal recycling industry which can profitably recover materials and reduce environmental pressures.