Attero, an end-to-end e-waste and Li-ion recycling solution provider in India, and the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, have joined hands to address the challenge of solar panel waste in India. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the collaboration was signed recently between Attero and NISE.
Under the MoU, NISE will provide support, its knowledge and deep understanding of the current solar installation scenario to Attero for research and development in the area of solar panel recycling. Pilot project will also be conducted to test the solar panel recycling technology developed by Attero using end-of-life panels provided by the institute. Both organizations will also explore establishing a dedicated test and research facility at the NISE campus to support recycling of lithium-ion batteries and solar panels.
The partnership also aims to generate jointly authored technical reports and recommendations to guide the creation of effective recycling standards and frameworks for the sector in India and globally.
“This collaboration with NISE is a timely and strategic initiative,” said Nitin Gupta, CEO and co-founder of Attero. “As India continues to expand its renewable energy capacity, there is a growing need to address the environmental impact of end-of-life solar panels. Recycling infrastructure has to evolve alongside generation capacity if we want to close the loop and avert a future waste crisis. Our goal is to build scalable, environment-friendly and scientific recycling solutions that ensure critical materials are recovered and reused. With NISE’s strong understanding of the solar ecosystem and Attero’s proven recycling technology, this partnership can lay the groundwork for a global approach to solar panel recycling.”
Mohammad Rihan, director general of NISE, said, “NISE is committed to advancing solar energy technologies and addressing associated challenges. Partnering with Attero, a leader in e-waste recycling, allows us to combine our expertise to tackle the critical issue of solar panel waste management effectively.”
Solar panels typically have a life cycle of 20 to 25 years, and a significant volume is expected to reach end-of-life over the next decade.
India’s solar energy sector has seen remarkable growth, with cumulative installed capacity reaching approximately 100.33 GW by the end of January 2025. This accounts for 47% of the nation’s renewable energy mix. Initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to provide free electricity to one crore households through rooftop solar installations, are set to accelerate this expansion further.
However, this rapid adoption brings forth the challenge of managing end-of-life solar panels. “Projections indicate that India’s cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) waste could reach approximately 600 kilotons by 2030 and escalate to about 19,000 kilotons by 2050. Addressing this impending issue is crucial for the sustainability of the country’s renewable energy initiatives,” stated Attero.
As the country’s apex institute for solar research and policy support, NISE plays a key role in India’s renewable energy landscape with R&D, testing, certification, capacity building, and support for implementing the National Solar Mission. Attero is a specialist in recycling lithium-ion batteries and other complex waste streams with its in-house developed recycling technology that recovers more than 22+ elements, at 98% resource recovery rates, at a purity of 99.9% with minimal environmental impact.
Attero is present in six countries: South Korea, Australia, Poland, Singapore, the USA, and India. It has been granted 46+ global patents to date and has applied for more than 200.
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