Attero, NISE Join Hands To Tackle Solar Panel Recycling In India

Attero, India’s largest cleantech company and a lithium-ion battery recycler, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous body under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), to address solar panel waste management.

Under the MoU, NISE will support Attero with its knowledge and expertise on India’s solar landscape to advance research and development in solar panel recycling. A pilot project will be conducted using end-of-life panels provided by NISE to test technologies developed by both organisations. They also plan to explore a dedicated test and research facility at the NISE campus for recycling lithium-ion batteries and solar panels. The partnership aims to generate joint technical reports and recommendations to help develop effective recycling standards and frameworks 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 expands its renewable energy capacity, we must address the environmental impact of end-of-life solar panels. Recycling infrastructure has to evolve alongside generation capacity. 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.”

Mohammad Rihan, Director General of NISE, said, “NISE is committed to advancing solar energy technologies and addressing associated challenges. Partnering with Attero allows us to combine our expertise to tackle the critical issue of solar panel waste management effectively.”

With the rise in solar energy adoption—driven by policy incentives, lower technology costs, and growing environmental awareness—India now faces the challenge of managing solar waste. Panels have a typical lifespan of 20–25 years, and a large volume is expected to reach end-of-life over the next decade. India’s installed solar capacity reached around 100.33 GW by the end of January 2025, accounting for 47% of the country’s total renewable mix. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, aimed at powering one crore homes with rooftop solar, is expected to further boost this growth.

Impact of Solar Waste

 This rapid solar 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. 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.

NISE mandate includes R&D, testing, certification, capacity building, and support for implementing the National Solar Mission. Attero complements this mandate 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, making it one of the global leaders in recycling lithium-ion batteries and other complex waste streams. By combining research capabilities with industry applications, Attero and NISE aim to support India’s clean energy goals while reinforcing the circular economy.