NDTV Profit Video Looks at Making Solar Energy More Efficient and Sustainable

NDTV Profit has published a video titled "Making Solar Energy More Efficient and Sustainable." The video, posted on September 18, 2026, looks at how the solar sector is working to get more power from every panel and reduce the environmental footprint of solar installations.

India has bet big on solar to meet its clean energy goals. The country added a record 18 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2025, according to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy data. But as installations grow, so do questions about efficiency and sustainability.

Why efficiency matters

Most commercial solar panels convert only 15% to 22% of sunlight into electricity. That leaves plenty of room for improvement. Researchers and companies are testing new materials, like perovskites, that could push efficiency past 30%. Others are working on bifacial panels that capture light on both sides, or tracking systems that follow the sun across the sky.

Efficiency gains matter for land use. A more efficient panel means fewer panels needed for the same output, which reduces the land area required for solar farms. In a country where land is scarce and often contested, that's a big deal.

The sustainability angle

Solar power is clean when it generates electricity, but making panels isn't. Manufacturing solar cells uses energy, water, and materials like silver and aluminum. Recycling old panels is still rare in India. Most end up in landfills, where they can leach heavy metals.

The video likely touches on these challenges. It may also look at efforts to make solar manufacturing greener, such as using renewable energy to power factories or designing panels that are easier to recycle.

India's solar waste is set to grow. The country could generate 200,000 tonnes of solar panel waste by 2030, according to a 2023 report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). That's a looming problem.

What's being done

Several Indian startups and research institutes are working on solutions. IIT Bombay has developed a method to recycle silicon from old panels. A few companies are piloting take-back programs for end-of-life panels. The government has proposed rules for solar waste management, but they're not yet enforced.

On the efficiency side, the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is testing new panel designs. Private players like Tata Power Solar and Adani Solar are investing in higher-efficiency cells.

The video from NDTV Profit adds to the public conversation about how to scale solar without creating new environmental problems. It's a balance that India will need to strike as it pushes toward 500 gigawatts of non-fossil capacity by 2030.

For now, the video is available on NDTV Profit's platform. Watch it to learn more about the push for better solar.