KENCHANAHALLI, India — Nestled on the fringes of a thick forest in southern India, a group of six women operate sewing machines within a modest garage, diligently crafting items such as cloth bags, trousers, hospital gowns, and office uniforms.

In the past, these women often faced disruptions due to frequent power outages caused by heavy rains damaging transmission lines, and the extreme heat overwhelming the power grid led to continual service interruptions. However, their situation has drastically improved due to a compact black battery pack, roughly the size of a standard office printer, which now powers their sewing machines and lights even in the absence of the main electricity supply.

“This battery has been a blessing for us,” remarked H. Gauri, one of the seamstresses. “Without it, we were forced to stitch by hand during blackouts, which was incredibly labor-intensive. Thankfully, that is no longer a concern, and we can meet all our orders on time.”

Despite the success of this group, such initiatives remain limited in India, where energy experts emphasize the importance of managing the growing influx of electric vehicles as well as the solar and wind energy sectors. These advancements, while beneficial for reducing reliance on fossil fuels, come with a pressing need to address what happens to the batteries, solar panels, and wind turbine components when they reach the end of their life cycle. A well-constructed recycling plan could mitigate waste and diminish the dependency on imported critical minerals used in clean energy solutions in the future.

Currently, numerous solar panels, batteries, and other clean energy components end up in landfills or are processed by informal waste recyclers. Nevertheless, there are emerging enterprises that focus on recycling valuable materials from these components.

The six tailors in Kenchanahalli have experienced significant transformations since the introduction of the battery, which has alleviated the disruptions caused by power outages.

Gauri, 32, noted that the stable income from her tailoring work has empowered her to build a new home for herself and her three children, fostering a newfound sense of independence. “In the past, my husband was not supportive of my long working hours or my trips to nearby towns for orders,” she shared. “However, once he saw my earnings, he became more understanding. This job has significantly impacted the lives of all the women here.”

The lithium-ion batteries can sustain power for up to six hours and were supplied by Nunam, a company specializing in battery refurbishment and energy storage. These batteries have been installed at the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement’s facility, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding impoverished and Indigenous communities across Karnataka.

According to Prithvi Raj Narendra, an engineer at Nunam, these batteries are ideally suited for such small-scale energy needs. “Using batteries for electric vehicles is akin to running; using them for small machinery is more like walking,” he explained.

In the four years since the tailoring initiative began, Nunam has seen a remarkable increase in demand. The company’s staff of around two dozen workers in Bengaluru is now busier than ever developing battery packs from old EV batteries sourced from cars and three-wheelers.

Narendra expressed ambitious goals for the company, aiming to generate one gigawatt-hour of power—enough to supply one million homes for a year—by the end of the decade, particularly for regions lacking reliable electricity sources.

With India’s status as the world’s most populous nation, it stands as one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning away from fossil fuels, especially through means such as solar energy, is imperative.

Typically, solar panels have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Current estimates suggest that India generates about 100 kilotons of solar-related waste annually, a figure projected to rise to 340 kilotons by 2030.

“The issue might seem small now, but it’s bound to escalate as the number of solar panels in use increases,” cautioned Adarsh Das, who has two decades of experience in India’s solar energy sector.

In its pursuit of clean energy goals, India has set an ambitious target of generating 500 gigawatts of power by the end of the decade and aims to be a leading producer of clean energy components like solar cells and wind turbines.

While the government has included solar, wind, and EV components in its electronic waste regulations, clear guidelines on recycling and profitability for the companies involved remain ambiguous.

First Solar, a U.S.-based renewable energy enterprise, operates a manufacturing facility in Chennai and is already integrating solar panel recycling into its business model. The company plans to produce new panels using recycled materials in the future.

Sujoy Ghosh, First Solar’s managing director for India, acknowledged that although the government’s recycling framework is a step in the right direction, specific rules for effective recycling processes are still needed.

Anjali Taneja, a policy specialist at the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, concurs that recycling presents a lucrative opportunity for India’s solar energy producers but emphasizes the need for a well-articulated recycling strategy to avoid becoming a significant waste generator.

India imports upwards of 95% of its lithium-ion batteries and substantial amounts of nickel, cobalt, and other rare earth minerals necessary for clean energy solutions. Reports suggest that around 90% of these materials could potentially be reclaimed for use in new installations of solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines domestically.

“The ability to recycle these crucial minerals presents a vast opportunity for India,” indicated Akansha Tyagi of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water in New Delhi, proposing that strategies to enhance product design, extend their lifecycle, and facilitate responsible recycling should be developed.

The next crucial step involves crafting a holistic policy that promotes a circular economy—an approach designed to maximize resource use while minimizing waste.

Industry participants are on board with this vision.

Deepali Sinha Khetriwal, who manages a coworking facility for electronic waste recyclers near New Delhi, highlighted the immense potential for job creation in the clean energy sector with a stronger focus on recycling.

“There is a high demand for skilled and semi-skilled labor,” she noted. “The resource recovery sector acts as a significant job creation engine.”

Khetriwal expressed hopes that more recyclers will emerge throughout the country, galvanizing efforts toward clean energy recycling on a national scale.

“Although our operation is still relatively small, what we are doing has the potential for replication,” she stated. “We eagerly anticipate the opportunities that lie ahead if we plan thoughtfully as a country.”