ANALYSIS OF LONG TERM IMPACT OF THE END OF LIFE SOLAR PANELS AS E-WASTE IN INDIA

Abstract

There has been a boom in solar panel installations across India butIndian solar manufacturers' have not taken any initiative towards disposal of end of life(EOL) solar panels. The estimated life of solar panels is around 25 years which indicates that many of these panels will reach the end of their lifespan in 2030s and beyond. This article highlights the problem of disposal of EOL solar panels and forecasts that it will constitute a major part of Electronic waste (E-waste) problem in India.This article also indicates the Life time Energy payback time and Carbon footprint of Solar panels.This article elaborates and analyzes the best practices of Solar Panel Recycling management which are followed across the globe and makes specific recommendations for effective Solar Panel trash management in India. It also suggests an approach based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to rank the Solar Manufacturers in India.