The other side of energy transition with rising solar waste – how circular economy matters

Who knew renewable energy, particularly solar, which itself is a cornerstone of the global energy transition and the most effective pathway to sustainability would trigger hazardous waste generation concern? The irony is hard to miss that as the world ramps up the share of renewable power in energy mix by deploying more of solar panels and wind turbines to chase sustainability goals, the risk of creating a new waste crisis grows. While more solar capacity is in line to be deployed, accounting for 80 per cent of the estimated 4,600 GW of new renewable capacity between 2025 and 2030, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates around 1.7-8 million tonnes of waste to be generated from PV modules by 2030, and that by 2050, is expected to soar to between 60 and 78 million tonnes. This is currently a pressing issue in countries or regions like China, India, the United States, and the EU where solar capacities are growing rapidly.

The scale of solar expansion

China, the major driving force behind the global expansion of renewable energy, alone installed 210 GW of new solar systems during the first six months of 2025. With this addition, China’s total installed photovoltaic capacity has already reached 1,100 GW. In the United States, the solar capacity reached over 260 gigawatts by late 2024 or early 2025, while that in India has touched 105.65 GW by the end of FY2025, with an addition of 23.83 GW during the same fiscal. By November 2025, India’s cumulative solar capacity has exceeded around 132 GW, making solar accounting for more than 20 per cent of the country’s energy mix. Looking ahead, India is targeting an ambitious 500 GW of solar capacity by 2030.