With global solar energy installations continuing to increase, the number of solar panels reaching their end of life is also on the rise, resulting in significant waste. To address this environmental issue, the concept of solar panel recycling is gaining momentum.
Beyond Renewables & Recycling, a startup founded in 2024 by Manhar Dixit and Vedant Taneja, is establishing a large-scale solar waste recycling ecosystem in Rajasthan. “A friend who runs a solar EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) company mentioned he had about 200 solar modules damaged during transport and installation at one of his sites. That’s when we considered the idea of addressing solar waste,” Dixit explained.
During their research, they discovered that solar recycling is already being implemented in developed countries such as the United States, Germany, Italy, China, Singapore, and Australia.
The startup has developed a proprietary process that recovers over 95% of materials—including silver, silicon, and glass—from end-of-life solar panels, transforming hazardous waste into valuable circular resources. Dixit referred to estimates predicting that India’s rapid solar adoption will generate nearly 1.2 million tonnes of solar photovoltaic (PV) waste by 2040, potentially rising to 4.8 million tonnes in scenarios where numerous solar panels fail prematurely.
“Much of this e-waste is currently managed by the informal sector, which often lacks the proper infrastructure for safely processing hazardous materials, leading to low recovery rates and environmental harm,” Taneja remarked.
Initially, the duo sought to comprehend how the informal sector handled the recycling process. “Once we understood the existing technologies, we began to develop our own blueprint for recycling panels, aimed at achieving high recovery of raw materials alongside eco-effectiveness,” Dixit stated.
Their facility will adhere to standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board regarding the storage and handling of solar waste modules and is designed to recycle 10-15 tonnes of waste panels daily. Taneja noted that the transportation of discarded panels is typically organized by them, although sometimes the seller may arrange this, often at a premium on the price of the waste materials.
Dixit highlighted a recent policy development: solar waste is now categorized under the e-waste management rules established in 2022. This mandates that any producer of solar waste—whether a manufacturer, asset developer, or EPC company—must transfer spent solar panels only to registered recyclers.
The company aims to be fully operational by February 1, 2026. “The materials we extract post-recycling are mostly metals, which are typically sold in metal scrap markets or to jewelers for silver,” Taneja explained.
Beyond Renewables & Recycling has recently secured ₹5 crore in pre-seed funding, led by Momentum Capital, with participation from Venture Catalysts, IIMA Ventures, Oorjan Cleantech, and Gautam Das. Taneja noted, “Funding has not been an issue. We’ve been fortunate to connect with the right investors for this project; however, it has been a lengthy journey and we didn’t seek funds immediately.”
“We conducted extensive research and developed our capabilities to comprehend this market, ensuring that we were making a calculated risk, thus delivering the promised return on investment to our investors,” he added.
