Solar energy is one of the proposed solutions for fighting climate change and liberating the world from fossil fuels. It has captured the collective imagination of many countries as the photovoltaic panels look shiny, clean, futuristic and green. According to the 2017 Global Risks Report of the World Economic Forum, climate change is ranked as one of the top 3 trends that will shape global developments over the next 10 years. It is among the highest existential risks in terms of likelihood and impact.
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) aims to install 100 GW of grid-connected PV systems by 2022 (Government of India, 2011), a five-time increase and over 30 times more solar than the current installations. The ambitious targets in India are supported by strong government action in support of the Paris Agreement’s focus on clean energy expansion. To this end, the government also intends to bring solar power to every home by 2019. It has invested in 25 solar parks, that can potentially increase India’s total installed solar capacity by almost tenfold.
Since 2012, India has installed over 1 GW of PV, annually achieving a cumulative capacity of almost 5 GW in 2015 (IRENA, 2016b). Today, India is amongst the top ten PV markets in the world (IEA-PVPS, 2014b) but the Indian power sector faces two main challenges. One, the need to alleviate energy poverty as more than one-third of the population lacks electricity access. Two, increased electricity demand (5-6 times by 2050) arising from rapid economic growth. Large-scale PV deployment has taken place only recently so major end-of-life PV waste volumes in India may not be expected until after 2030. This waste could average 50,000-320,000 tonnes by 2030, possibly culminating in 4.4-7.5 million tonnes by 2050. Currently, India has no specific PV-related waste regulations.
NTPC occupies the premier position in the Indian energy sector in terms of size and efficiency vis-à-vis setting up power projects and generating electricity. It aims to help generate reliable power and related solutions at competitive prices, using locally available sources, in a sustainable manner, with efficient and innovative eco-friendly technologies and multiple energy sources. With an increasing presence in the power value chain, NTPC is well on its way to becoming a major power in India’s sustainable and responsible growth story.
Any form of energy production has a flip side and solar energy is no exception. Its impact may not be anywhere near coal-fired power plants, but photovoltaic modules and solar cells are manufactured using a concoction of toxic chemicals i.e. arsenic, cadmium telluride, hexafluoroethane, lead and polyvinyl fluoride. These do not pose much of a threat during a solar panel’s working life, but the problem occurs at the beginning and end of a solar panel’s life. The toxins are released during the manufacturing process and when they hit the scrap decades later, workers are put at risk.
According to a Silicon Valley Toxics Report, “the solar PV industry has the potential to provide enormous environmental benefits, but the toxic materials contained in solar panels will present a serious danger to public health and the environment if they are not disposed of properly when they reach the end of their useful lives. The solar industry involves a lot of toxic chemicals and we have to look at the lifecycle of these materials, from mining to manufacturing.”
Standard back sheets usually contain polyvinyl fluoride, lead, chromium, cadmium, selenium, arsenic, and antimony. The dominant fluoro-based outer layers are driven by the Chinese market. Unfortunately, many producers have successfully advocated for their inclusion in the technical requirements for state-issued PV projects. Similarly, in India, there is a perception that durability of solar panels is compromised without fluor. This hampers the use of proven alternatives that may offer better performance and durability at competitive prices while lowering carbon footprints and improving recyclable production waste.
The sustainable growth of photovoltaics can play an increasing role in the decarbonisation of the power mix. Companies must phase out this class of toxic chemicals as the choices made today will have consequences for material needs and the end-of-life treatment in the future. Companies must play a key role in endorsing sustainability and responsible business. They must drive sustainability in selected areas across operations and product portfolios, while engaging in targeted advocacy to enable both.
Clean and green sources of electricity are a product of renewable energy technologies. With their abundant supply, they form the backbone for India’s energy security and energy independence as envisaged by 2020. Renewable energy forms the foundation of India’s emissions reduction strategy. Today, India must aim to lead the global response to climate change via decisive action and clean energy development.
Aditi Rukhaiyar
November 28, 2018
source https://indiaoutbound.org/powering-ahead-in-solar-sustainability-indias-response/
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