Jakson Engineers to build hi-tech solar panel recycling facility

Jakson Engineers Limited (JEL) has announced the signing of a contract with European technology provider to establish India’s first hi-tech photovoltaic (PV) module recycling plant. The agreement was formalised between Mr. Gagan Deep Chanana, Joint MD & CEO, JEL, and Managing Director, Ecoprogetti SRL, the technology provider company in the presence of Mr. Bharat Gupta, Board of Director, JEL. This milestone positions Jakson as the first Indian company to procure a Hi-Tech PV recycling facility, underscoring India’s growing commitment to responsible clean-energy lifecycle management.

The advanced facility will be capable of recycling approximately 300 MW of solar panels per year, equivalent to over 5,00,000 PV modules annually. Designed with a processing speed of 60 panels per hour, the plant will handle close to 1.62 tonnes of material per hour and more than 13,500 tonnes of PV waste every year.

Jakson Engineers said that this high-capacity system will support the scientific, safe and environmentally sound handling of end-of-life solar panels, a challenge that is expected to grow significantly as India accelerates renewable-energy adoption.

“This investment marks an important step in India’s clean-energy transition. By recovering valuable materials such as aluminium, glass, silicon, copper and silver, we will be reducing the industry’s dependence on virgin raw materials and ensuring that solar power becomes truly circular and resource-efficient”, said Gagan Chanana.

Bharat Gupta, added, “As India expands its solar footprint, the responsible management of endof-life modules will be essential for the long-term sustainability and resilience of the sector. This facility will divert thousands of tonnes of waste from landfills each year while returning critical materials back into the manufacturing ecosystem. Through strategic investments like this, we are ensuring that solar energy remains clean, sustainable and future-ready throughout its lifecycle.”

With this initiative, Jakson strengthens its position at the forefront of India’s evolving energy landscape, creating a model for responsible solar-lifecycle management. The company recently laid the foundation stone for Phase 1 of its 6 GW Integrated Solar Ingot, Wafer, Cell, and Module Manufacturing Facility in Madhya Pradesh, backed by an investment of over ₹8,000 crore.

These backward integration efforts, combined with the PV module recycling facility, highlight growing commitment of Jakson Engineers to building a fully circular, end-to-end renewable-energy ecosystem powered by worldclass technology and long-term sustainability at its core.

Solar Waste Conundrum

Solar waste is emerging as a serious and fast-escalating challenge in India, largely due to the country’s rapid expansion of solar power capacity. While solar energy is central to India’s clean-energy transition, the absence of robust recycling ecosystems, clear regulatory mechanisms such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and dedicated end-of-life management frameworks poses significant environmental risks. Discarded solar panels contain hazardous materials including lead and cadmium, which, if not handled properly, can contaminate soil and water.

At the same time, they also hold valuable recoverable minerals that remain largely untapped. India’s solar waste generation, estimated at around 100 kilotonnes (kt) in FY23, is projected to rise sharply to 340 kt by 2030 and explode to nearly 19,000 kt by 2050, according to an estimate. This looming surge underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policies, large-scale recycling infrastructure, and a circular-economy approach to prevent environmental pollution while unlocking resource recovery opportunities.