Recycling

OMC Power, a distributed renewable energy (DRE) company targeting 1 GWp clean energy portfolio in India, and Honda Motor have partnered on innovative business models in energy storage and battery repurposing from the electric mobility ecosystem.

A comprehensive new report from IEA PVPS Task 12 reveals how countries around the world are managing the growing volumes of end-of-life solar modules, implementing regulations and scaling recycling infrastructure to handle the expected increment in PV waste over the coming decades.

With lithium being an imported raw material, recycling and repurposing of lithium batteries once they have completed their lifecycle is paramount. In line with this, Indian startups have come up with several ingenious business models for second-life applications that repurpose EV or lithium-ion batteries for stationary storage.

The world is projected to retire over 11 million tonnes of lithium-ion batteries each year by 2030. India may contribute nearly 2 million tonnes by 2030, not only due to electric vehicles, but also because of an exponential level of consumption of consumer electronics and stationary storage.

Researchers at University of New South Wales have reported details about a novel sieving-aids technology that improves the separation of metal fragments from other components when recycling end-of-life PV panels. The patented process reportedly enhances the recovery of silver.

Researchers at MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) have developed an innovative process that not only enables recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life solar panels but also upcycles non-recoverable fractions into construction materials such as bricks, blocks, and aggregates. This dual approach prevents hazardous waste from entering landfills while reducing dependence on virgin raw materials.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an INR 1,500 crore incentive scheme to develop recycling capacity in the country for the separation and production of critical minerals from secondary sources.

The initiative aims to establish India’s first circular vanadium ecosystem, converting refinery waste into battery-grade vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅)—a critical material used in next-generation long-duration batteries that support grid stability and renewable energy deployment.

In a new monthly column for pv magazine, the International Solar Energy Society debunks old and new urban legends about solar energy.

India is well-placed to advance the e-mobility circular economy in Asia against the backdrop of the fast-growing market and recycling strategies. Adopting the 5Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Remanufacture, and Recycle—can help in reducing resource depletion and waste.