India has set an ambitious target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, as part of its transition to a clean energy future, one that responds to the challenges of climate change. A significant portion of this transition is the addition of new renewable energy (RE) capacities, which will remain central to how India achieves its 2030 goal, as well as its 2047 energy independence target. However, equally important is the need to focus on issues of circularity, while we recognize that the world’s renewable resources seem unlimited today, the materials required to tap into them, or extract them, are limited. Embracing circularity in the growth of India’s RE sector will help reduce both the end-of-life issues for solar panels and wind turbines and reduce the need for new materials and metals in the development of the RE sector. Several studies, including those by IEA and IRENA have suggested that by 2040-2045, at least 15-20 percent of the total materials demand should be met through recovery of used materials and adoption of other circularity concepts.

India could establish leadership by ensuring that the clean energy transition includes a circular economy transition. This session focussed on the positive benefits of adopting circularity in renewable energy, as well as discuss current and emerging trends on RE circularity and opportunities to create positive value addition through adopting circular economy principles in the growth of the RE sector.