The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has exempted solar module manufacturing units, solar power projects, wind power projects, and mini hydel power projects less than 25 MW from obtaining both Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Establish (CTE).

Under the notification, projects with an EC will no longer need to obtain a CTE or Consent to Operate, reducing the compliance burden and eliminating duplication of approvals. A standard operating procedure has been issued to integrate the CTE considerations into the EC process.

State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) will be consulted during the EC process to ensure all environmental safeguards are upheld. However, industries will still be required to pay the CTE fee to prevent revenue loss for states.

The waste generated from solar photovoltaic modules, panels, and cells is covered under the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022, the then Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R.K. Singh informed the Rajya Sabha last year.

According to the rules, manufacturers and producers must store solar waste until the fiscal year 2034–35 as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines. All producers of solar equipment and materials must register on the MoEFCC’s E-Waste Management System portal and maintain an inventory of their products on the platform.

The rules dictate that solar module and cell recyclers recover useful materials according to CPCB standards. Manufacturers must comply with CPCB-issued SOPs for storing and processing solar waste.

Additionally, the MoEFCC has enforced the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, which mandate the recycling of critical materials such as lead, nickel, lithium, and cobalt used in batteries. These rules cover waste management for batteries across applications, including electric vehicles, portable devices, and industrial systems, ensuring an eco-friendly approach to battery recycling.

The ministry had previously announced the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 ensuring eco-friendly management of waste batteries, including those embedded in electric vehicles, portable, and industrial batteries. Under the revised rules, the ministry mandated the recycling of materials such as lead, nickel, lithium, nickel, and cobalt which are used in batteries.