From here:
The Truth about Dangerous Chemicals in Solar Panels - Iowa Solar
'Contrary to previous assumptions, pollutants such as lead or carcinogenic cadmium can be almost completely washed out of the fragments of solar modules
over several months, for example, by rainwater, making it possible for different bodies of water to be contaminated.”
But...
'These chemicals don’t appear in modern aluminum-frame solar panels.'
Plus note the bolded section.
Hey, thank you for backing up and supporting photovoltaics, bro.
Science is my favorite subject, but I am not familiar with the intricacies of solar panels, except that the panels use P and N type silicon, solar panels have been used on space probes as far as Jupiter (
NASA's Juno Spacecraft Breaks Solar Power Distance Record), and that the modern solar panels have longer warranties and higher efficiency compared to the old ones. If only I could put solar on my place, but my home is a condo. I use 300 kWh of electricity per month, so just a few hundred watt panels would be enough for me, but sadly I have to use fossil fuels (natural gas is the most common energy source for my city). By the way, for the convenience of others, a summary of the Iowa Solar article is posted below.
The summary is generated using a locally run private artificial intelligence dubbed Mistral 7B which makes my laptop's CPU run very warm, and it takes 10 minutes to summarize articles (or two minutes for shorter prompts). Of course, other people with faster computers such as expensive gaming rigs with powerful video cards (GPU) can have this Mistral AI take a matter of seconds to answer prompts:
The article discusses the history of solar energy discovery and its current state as a popular clean energy source. Solar power was first discovered in 1839 by French physicist Edmond Becquerel, and since then, other scientists and mathematicians have continued his work. Solar-powered engines were registered for patents as early as 1860, and today, solar energy is more popular than ever due to its environmental benefits and potential to alleviate climate change.
However, despite the advantages of solar power, it has not yet replaced traditional energy sources on a large scale. China, the United States, and Japan are currently the top three countries utilizing solar power, accounting for over 50% of the world's total capacity. These countries also have high electricity consumption rates.
The production of solar panels is limited due to the high demand for them, with manufacturing companies producing panels as fast as they can be installed. Additionally, energy companies that own coal, oil, and natural gas power plants have lobbied against solar power, claiming it contains dangerous chemicals and causes pollution.
Solar panels are primarily made of silicon semiconductors in the form of photovoltaic cells, which absorb sunlight and create an electric current. However, some solar panels use toxic chemicals during production and disposal. These include cadmium, lead, and hexfluoroethane. The recycling of solar panels is becoming more common to mitigate the environmental impact.
Recycling efforts for solar panels are increasing, with companies developing new methods to extract valuable materials such as silver, silicon, and aluminum from used panels. ROSI Solar, a French startup, is planning to build a new recycling plant in Grenoble, France, to extract these materials and sell them back into the market.
Despite some concerns regarding the toxic chemicals used in solar panel production and disposal, solar power remains a cleaner alternative to coal and oil energy sources. The solar industry is also working on improving recycling methods and repurposing solar panels for reuse.
Other alternative energy sources, such as wind turbines, hydroelectric plants, geothermal energy, biofuel, and biomass, also have their own advantages and disadvantages. Wind power requires large amounts of land, while biofuels can compete with food production.
Overall, solar power is now the most ecologically friendly option for generating energy, second only to wind power. By switching to solar energy, individuals can contribute to making the world a healthier place to live.
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