The Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power has announced that India has witnessed remarkable progress in the field of solar energy. A press release to this effect was issued by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) dated December 23, 2023.
As of November 30, 2023, the cumulative installed capacity of solar energy in the country has reached an impressive 72.31 GW, marking a substantial increase from 2.28 GW recorded till March 31, 2014.
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) has taken a step towards managing electronic waste by notifying the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, on November 2, 2022. These rules lay down stringent guidelines for manufacturers and producers of solar photo-voltaic modules, panels, or cells.
According to the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, manufacturers and producers of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells are required to:
- Ensure registration on the designated portal.
- Store solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells waste generated up to the year 2034-2035 in accordance with guidelines provided by the Central Pollution Control Board.
- File annual returns on the portal by the end of each year up to the year 2034-2035.
- Process waste other than solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells in adherence to the applicable rules or guidelines.
- Maintain a distinct inventory of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells on the portal.
- Comply with standard operating procedures and guidelines specified by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Furthermore, the rules mandate recyclers of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells to ensure the recovery of materials as directed by the Central Pollution Control Board.
The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 also empowers the Department of Industry in the State and Union Territory, or any other government agency authorized by the State Government or the Union Territory, to earmark or allocate industrial space or shed for e-waste dismantling and recycling in existing and upcoming industrial parks, estates, and clusters.
