The Real Cost of a Clean Ride

Green Energy Goals and Recycling Policies Must Go Hand in Hand

Shambhu Ghatak*

The official missive is clear on renewable energy. Word has been out quite early that India’s renewable power capacity is the fourth largest in the world and is growing at the fastest speed among all major countries.1 This is, of course, not breaking news. The transition to a cleaner energy source, aimed at putting brakes on the worsening air quality and warming of the planet, has been in the works.

On the power front, in 2015-16, the Government of India had set a target of achieving 175 Gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2022, which was later indicated to be enhanced to 450 GW.2 If the large hydro installed capacity is taken into consideration (45 GW by February 2021), then India’s non-fossil energy capacity is 139 GW — close to 38 per cent of installed capacity.3

But renewable energy is not the panacea for all the existing environmental ills. Of course, a giant’s share of combatting the climate crisis will have to be shouldered by renewables, but the sector itself has been lying in the eye of a storm, as it sets off a Pandora’s box of problems in the current climate of just energy transition. Its negative impacts cannot be discounted even if weighed against its arsenal to resist the worst effects of global warming. There are immediate concerns about the decline of jobs, an uncertain future and livelihood insecurity pivoted around an ecosystem of energy transition but also issues of re-skilling and generating new employment for a staggering informal workforce deployed in both the standalone fossil fuel industries and sectors (cement, steel, thermal power etc.) reliant on them. Policymakers will have to hit the ground running, while addressing these concerns.

But renewable energy’s direct negative impact on the ecosystem and other stakeholders are equally alarming. This article analyses the harm caused by the renewable energy sector to man, animal and nature through arbitrary land allotment, loss of wildlife habitat, depletion of forest cover in small and big ways. It also discusses why clean energy waste can be really dirty when they reach the end of their lifecycle and why safe waste disposal or recycling policies need to be in place before setting ambitious green energy goals.

Challenges of Renewable Energy Expansion

With India acting on its commitment related to the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), it’s prudent to question the halo around the renewable energy sector and take cognisance of its various adverse impacts. The lack of adequate policies and legislation around this lightning-fast energy transition is taking a heavy toll on multiple stakeholders, including rural communities. In some cases, relief comes by way of judicial orders but in others, men and wildlife lose their traditional common land with no redressal. Following are some examples.

1 Solar power plant construction in forest areas: A media report detailing the electrocution of 18 elephants by lightning in Kandali Proposed Reserve Forest in central Assam’s Nagaon district on May 13, 2021 led to an expert investigation and the findings being accepted officially.4 A 10-member team of wildlife experts and veterinarians found that the 18 elephants had died due to electrocution by lightning. After a detailed study, laboratory reports nullified the presence of anthrax-like bacilli and any toxins or its metabolites in the submitted samples. The report had been prepared by the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL) in Guwahati with meteorological inputs from the North East Satellite Application Centre at Umiam in Meghalaya. Wildlife activists, however, doubted the autopsy report, which was made public and accepted by the Assam Environment and Forest Minister. The green activists in Assam blamed the construction of the 15MW solar power project at Mikir Bamuni Grant for the elephant deaths. They alleged that the fencing around 93 acres of the solar power project land blocked the traditional movement route of the elephants. It compelled these wild animals to take a detour, which finally led to their electrocution.

Following this event, Apurba Ballav Goswami, a Golaghat-based wildlife activist lodged an FIR at the Samaguri police station in Nagaon district asking for an independent probe. In addition, Bhaskar J Barua, a wildlife photographer and conservationist, questioned the post-mortem report and found technical flaws in it.5

In its order issued last year, the Apex court had called for action in potential habitats, expanding the protection area and the cost burden for the companies

2 Threat to Great Indian Bustards: Loss of wildlife habitats is a recurring theme in the modern world, characterised by a relentless pursuit of profitability through unsustainable infrastructure projects.

The fallout of this extreme, unhinged greed is not only a compromised ecosystem for the wildlife, but also a shrinking one.

The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), an endangered bird, is facing a risk to its life, owing to fatal collisions with power lines of the newly established wind and solar power parks.6 Journalist Shuchita Jha writes that the sacred groves of the Degrai Oran in Jaisalmer and nearby areas are few of the last remaining habitats of the GIB.7 But, wind farms and solar parks in the area have been found to have encroached upon the grasslands, the traditional habitat of these nearly extinct birds. To protect the habitat of the GIB and prevent the species from going extinct, wildlife conservationist MK Ranjitsinh Jhala had filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2019. He pleaded that the power generating companies be asked to lay underground wiring in the sacred groves, given that only 150 of the critically-endangered species are reportedly left in the country.8

In its order issued last year, the Apex court had called for action in potential habitats, expanding the protection area and the cost burden for the companies. The two-judge bench ruled that the priority should be to save the near extinct birds, irrespective of the cost factor. But big businesses are rarely seen taking responsibility for their contribution to ecosystem collapses. Although the Supreme Court order of April 19, 2021 asked for transmission lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat to go underground, the companies behind these renewable power projects, pointed out that this would cost them US$ 4 billion additionally. Their representatives claimed that if the transmission lines go underground, about 20 GW of awarded solar and wind projects would be jeopardised. Subsequently, the Supreme Court has asked a three-member high-level committee to file a report “indicating what steps have been taken for compliance with the directions contained in the judgment of this Court”.9

3 Public land for solar power companies: Sustained protests against takeover of common property resources by renewable energy companies have now become frequent across the country. One of the instances of resistance is a petition filed by locals, at the Rajasthan High Court in June 2021. In this case the Court ordered the cancellation of the allotment of public utility land in Jaisalmer to the Adani group-owned company Adani Renewable Energy Park Rajasthan Ltd (AREPRL).10 The state government of Rajasthan had allotted 6,115 bighas of land at Nedan village near Pokhran in the Jaisalmer district in 2018 to set up a power plant owned by AREPRL. The Rajasthan High Court’s division bench also directed the state government to conduct a survey of the land parcels allotted to AREPRL as well as Essel Surya Urja Company of Rajasthan Ltd (ESUCRL) in three villages - Nedan, Ugras and Nagnechinagar. It further ordered to cancel the allotment on these land parcels, if any part of them is found to be allotted on land for public utilities. The court order made sure that the rights of the petitioners, other khatedar tenants and the land of public utilities were not infringed on account of land allotments to ESUCRL and AREPRL. The Rajasthan High Court ordered that the entire exercise, pursuant to the order, be completed by the state government within six weeks from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the order

Camel feed destroyed: Grazing lands and water resources, available earlier in the Orans i.e., sacred groves, have also fallen prey as demand for industries producing renewable power rises. These common access grounds are being usurped at a fast clip by companies owning solar power parks.11 Due to the disappearance of grazing lands, Raikas, the traditional camel herders of Rajasthan, are facing livelihood insecurity. Land, where pastoralists took their camels for grazing across generations, has become inaccessible after the establishment of solar parks.12

On top of that, the solar power parks have not been able to generate adequate jobs for the local population in Rajasthan. Many desert trees like ‘kumut’, ‘khejari’, ‘rohida’, ‘kair’, ‘jal’ and ‘bordi’ on which the camels feed, have been removed by the renewable power project companies.13 Desert ecology is getting disturbed due to the establishment of solar parks. Sharp edges of the solar panels pose a threat to camel lives.

Desert ecology is getting disturbed due to the establishment of solar parks. Sharp edges of the solar panels pose a threat to camel lives

On top of that, the solar power parks have not been able to generate adequate jobs for the local population in Rajasthan. Many desert trees like ‘kumut’, ‘khejari’, ‘rohida’, ‘kair’, ‘jal’ and ‘bordi’ on which the camels feed, have been removed by the renewable power project companies.13 Desert ecology is getting disturbed due to the establishment of solar parks. Sharp edges of the solar panels pose a threat to camel lives.

Waste Management as a Sustainable Solution

Among other things, policy researchers and environmental activists are worried about the following aspects of renewable energy:

Decommissioned solar panel management: Although solar panels can last for decades if they are properly cleaned and maintained, their output reduces after some years. Once solar panels are decommissioned, they are dumped directly in the landfills or shipped from the developed countries to third world countries.14 It is done so because the process of safe disposal or recycling of solar panels is costly and time-consuming. Heavy metals in solar panels such as lead and cadmium may enter groundwater and harm plant lives, affect soil fertility, and disrupt livelihoods. Such metals also pose health hazards to human beings. After the valuable silver and copper are extracted from the photovoltaic (or PV) cells, the contaminated glass and plastic casings are burnt in cement furnaces. Although solar panels are mostly used in China and the US, only producers in Europe are held accountable for their solar waste. Ideally, the cost of recycling should be included in the price of solar panels in order to reduce the waste and environmental impact of the panels. 15

Recycling and reuse of EV batteries: Due to the skyrocketing demand for electric cars and EVs in India, around 1.45 lakh tonnes of used lithium-ion batteries would need to be recycled by the year 2030.16 Recycling and reuse of EV batteries would ensure domestic availability of lithium, graphite, cobalt and nickel, and eventually bring down the cost of EV batteries despite the country having minimal reserves of these minerals. Presently the country imports bulk of the lithium-ion batteries from China. Recycling of EV batteries is harder and more complicated than the recycling of batteries that power mobile phones and other electronic gadgets. It is not economic to recycle EV batteries, as per some experts. However, others think that the reintroduction of recycled metals and components back into the supply chain of EV batteries would reduce cost and complement the import of rare earth metals from countries where they are found in abundance. This would also save us expensive foreign exchange.

Reuse or repurpose of EV batteries is also possible in mobile-phone towers or power stations. Unsafe disposal of lithium-ion batteries (used in EVs as well as mobile phones and other consumer electronics) straight into the landfills

Heavy metals in solar panels such as lead and cadmium may enter groundwater and harm plant lives, affect soil fertility, and disrupt livelihoods

Recycling of EV batteries is harder and more complicated than the recycling of batteries that power mobile phones and other electronic gadgets

would be both an environmental threat and an opportunity lost.17 Used batteries contain toxic and/or flammable materials, which can set off fires if handled by untrained persons in the informal waste-management sector. Unsafe disposal of lithiumion batteries can also contaminate soil and water. Recycling, recovery and repurposing of lithium-ion batteries, instead of dumping them in the landfills, can create a circular economy.

Waste management is a significant step, which India needs to take while transitioning from a fossil-fuel based economy to a renewable energy one.

Used batteries contain toxic and/ or flammable materials, which can set off fires if handled by untrained persons in the informal waste-management sector

Conclusion

Nations of the Global South are often compelled to adopt or purchase sub-optimal technologies during technology transfers handed out by developed countries. India, being a huge technology market should have significant bargaining power in a globalised world. Following kindergarten economics, a marketplace can dictate the product. So, we should have policies and regulations that are technology agnostic but can determine the output tailor-made for our context. For instance, solar panels usually have a technical lifetime of 20-25 years. They turn into waste after that period. If we use more solar panels for renewable energy generation currently, we can expect huge piles of waste after two decades.

Strangely, the waste solution does not bother anybody at present. In the legally binding power purchase agreement (PPA), signed between the distribution companies (discoms) or purchaser and the project developer, there is complete absence of a significant clause. There is no pledge that makes it mandatory for the developer to recycle or dispose the end-of-life waste in an environment friendly manner. If such a clause is absent, then the cost of safe waste disposal or recycling is not held to be the responsibility of the developer. Also, it is not included in the financial planning of the project. In such cases, one should not be joyful about low bid values for renewable energy projects, assuming that solar energy is dirt cheap. Instead, there is an urgent need to internalise the social and environmental costs, especially in the generation of solar energy. The renewable energy policies should ensure adoption of suitable technologies that have substantial supply security as well as recyclability (the latter is essential for material sustainability). We need to talk more about end-use regulations so that India is able to adopt technologies with both supply security as well as better recyclability.18


* Shambhu Ghatak is Senior Associate Fellow at Common Cause


Endnotes

  1. Koundal, A. (2020, November 26). India’s renewable power capacity is the fourth largest in the world, says PM Modi. ETEnergyworld.com. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from https://bit.ly/39xcDAr
  2. Third Biennial Update Report to The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Government of India. UNFCCC. (2021). Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3yYyI56
  3. Emission Intensity Tracking: On The Road To COP 26. Centre for Science and Environment. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3sX1cbF
  4. Special Correspondent. (2021, June 4). Lightning killed 18 elephants in Assam: report. The Hindu. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://bit.ly/38JYFLm
  5. Barua, B. J. (2021, June 10). Death of 18 Elephants by Lightning: Unearthing a Web of Lies. The Quint. Retrieved May 26, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3t1IcsD
  6. Singh, R. K. (2021, June 16). The Great Indian Bustard and India’s Renewable Energy Challenge. NDTV.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3GsL0Vm
  7. Jha, Shuchita (2022, April 5). Supreme Court seeks update on power cables at Great Indian Bustard’s habitat. Down to Earth. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3wNlfKN
  8. Vaidyanathan, A (2021, April 19). Supreme Court Appoints Experts Panel on Protecting Great Indian Bustard. NDTV.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3LO4RPM
  9. Jha, S. (2022, April 5). Supreme Court seeks update on power cables at Great Indian Bustard’s habitat. DownToEarth. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3wNlfKN
  10. NDTV. (2021, June 30). Rajasthan High Court Cancels Allotment Of Public Utility Land To Adani Group Power Project. NDTV.com. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3PL59di
  11. Singh, S., & Sultana, K. S. (2022, February 3). Camels in Crisis: The ‘ship of the desert’ in Rajasthan on the verge of drowning. Gaon Connection English. Retrieved 2022, from https://bit.ly/3PLfx51
  12. Nagaraj, A., & Srivastava, R. (2022, March 6). Photo essay: India’s solar energy boom has left some communities worried for their future. Scroll.in. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3wSIsvh
  13. Times News Network. (2021, July 5). Jaisalmer: Solar power ‘surge’ in desert threatening lives of camels. Times of India. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3sXXOgZ
  14. Kumar, M. R. (2022, May 23). The Afterlife of Solar Panels. The Wire Science. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3wOCSde
  15. Kumar, M. R. (2022, May 23). The Afterlife of Solar Panels. The Wire Science. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3wOCSde
  16. Desai, P. (2022, March 29). Time ripe for EV battery recycling ecosystem. Deccan Herald. Retrieved May 2022 26, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3LL9FW1
  17. Ghanekar, N. (2021, April 18). India’s Looming Electric Vehicle Challenge: Spent Batteries. IndiaSpend. Retrieved May 26, 2022, from https://bit.ly/3LL9FW1
  18. The ideas of Samrat Bagchi -- an expert on energy -- that he shared with participants during a training programme on climate change, has been used in this paragraph.

April-June 2022