NGT issues notice to Center and others over improper recycling of used solar panels

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. File | Photo credit: Getty Images

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Center on improper disposal and recycling of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

The green body was hearing a letter petition filed by a farmer from Uttar Pradesh claiming lack of proper disposal facilities for used solar panels.

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In an order dated December 23, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, chairman of the NGT, and expert member A. Senthil Vel said: “The case of the petitioner is that solar panels are being used to generate power for irrigation agricultural fields of his village under the Kusum. Yojna since 2019, and it highlighted the gaps in the life cycle management of damaged solar panels.

The bench said that as per the petition, these solar panels could not be repaired and had to be discarded as scrap metal, but there was a lack of “proper disposal infrastructure”, requiring these panels to be buried or sent in landfills, which had negative consequences. soil quality.

The NGT said the plea raised various issues, including the limited value of the panels as scrap dealers accepted only aluminum, copper and glass components of the PV panels, while the remaining substances including polymers and silicon, were not recyclable and had to be sent to landfills.

He said that “photovoltaic panels contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium, which could leach into soil and water, causing long-term environmental damage”, and that there was no such thing as no more “established mechanism for the safe disposal or recycling of damaged solar panels.” the region.

“The petition letter raises substantial issues related to compliance with environmental standards, particularly the implementation of the provisions of the e-waste (management) rules,” the court noted.

The NGT named the secretaries of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy as respondents or parties.

The member secretaries of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the Lucknow regional office of the MoEFCC were also accused.

“Send notice to the respondents,” the court said, posting the case for further proceedings on February 10.