Is it feasible to start a photovoltaic panel recycling business in India?

As a hot spot in emerging markets, recycling of used photovoltaic panels has attracted a lot of attention, especially in India. With the rapid growth of the photovoltaic industry, a large number of photovoltaic panels have been put into use, and the problem of their end-of-life disposal has become increasingly prominent, posing a severe challenge to the environment.

Therefore, from a global perspective, especially in the Indian market with huge potential, recycling used photovoltaic panels is not only feasible, but also a necessary measure to cope with environmental pressure and tap market opportunities. Next, I will analyze the feasibility of the photovoltaic panel recycling business based on India’s own background.

Market Potential

Photovoltaic panel recycling

India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy capacity additions, with solar power playing a major role. According to the data, India's solar power capacity has increased almost 11-fold in the five years from 2017-2021. And as in 2023, India had a total RE capacity of 169 GW+ and is prospected to increase more in the coming decades. The increase in installations means that a large number of photovoltaic panels will reach the end of their life in the coming years, and the demand for photovoltaic panel recycling will also grow at the same time, creating broad prospects for the recycling industry.

Economic Benefit

Final products

As the demand for solar panels continues to grow, so too does the need for their disposal. The main materials of photovoltaic panels include silicon, glass, aluminum, copper, etc. These materials have high recycling value and can be sold directly or reused in the manufacturing process, which not only reduces production costs but also promotes the circular economy. From an economic perspective, the development of a photovoltaic panel recycling business in India would be profitable.

Current status and challenges

The solar panel recycling industry in India is still in its infancy. And recycling photovoltaic panels requires specialized equipment. In addition, the cost of setting up a solar panel recycling plant can be high, which makes setting up a solar panel recycling plant in India challenging.

Photovoltaic panel recycling machine

Henan DOING has a team of highly qualified engineers, focusing on waste recycling machinery and committed to providing first-class solutions. According to the structural characteristics of photovoltaic panels, our company has developed a photovoltaic panel recycling machine that is energy-saving and environmentally friendly, has high separation efficiency, low cost, and easy to scale up. Through disassembly, crushing, and sorting, valuable aluminum frames, glass, copper, silicon powder, and plastic can be extracted.

Environmental protection

The disposal of solar panels is a major environmental issue as they contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium and silicon. These substances can leach into the soil and water, causing harm to the environment and human health. Recycling these panels will reduce the environmental impact of their disposal and help preserve natural resources.

Policy Support

The Indian government has set ambitious targets for renewable energy generation, including solar power. To achieve these targets, the government has implemented policies and incentives to promote the development of the solar industry, including the recycling of solar panels. The government has also established regulations for the disposal of hazardous waste, including solar panels, which would support the development of a recycling industry.

All in all, starting a photovoltaic panel recycling business in India is very feasible. Our photovoltaic panel recycling machine can help you recycle used photovoltaic panels more efficiently and with less waste, allowing you to maximize your profits. If you are interested and want to know more details, please contact us.