4 ms·
It's too bad they don't include post-use decomissioning/recycling costs. There is some really toxic crap in there Nuclear has to, so should solar. They also fo
by hairytrog 8y ago
It's too bad they don't include post-use decomissioning/recycling costs. There is some really toxic crap in there Nuclear has to, so should solar.
They also forget that renewables are not that versatile and only address a small part of the big 4 carbon emitters (grid, industrial, cargo, cows). Industrial and cargo transport are going to require nuclear heat sources.
So while it's great that costs are coming down, they are not are not reporting the full cost, and it's only a partial solution to the big energy problems.
- CabSauce 8y agoIf we're going to count disposal cost, we should definitely count the externalities for other methods as well. Climate change, pollution, etc.
- beat 8y agoDemanding a TOTAL ENERGY SOLUTION OR NOTHING is an endemic problem in these comments. Partial solutions rock.
- Brakenshire 8y agoToxic crap in solar? For silicon panels, which are the vast majority of the market, what specifically is toxic in the panel itself? I can only think of lead in solder, which is the same issue for all electronic devices. There are toxic chemicals used in the processes for making the panel, which need proper environmental regulation, but that doesn’t mean the panel itself contains toxic materials.
- jhayward 8y agoThere is one major manufacturer (First Solar) that makes CIGS [edit: should read 'CdTe'] thin-film panels which do have Cd, etc and need a waste management strategy. I believe First Solar guarantees waste recovery for their panels [1]. But you are correct, the vast majority of panels are silicon-based and have no significant environmental disposal issues. Leaded solder use is already quite low and is targeted for zero content in the near future. [1] http://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Sustainability-Documents/Recycling/First-Solar-Recycling-Datasheet.ashx http://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Sustainability...
- Brakenshire 8y agoI agree with your post in general, but as far as I know First Solar make CdTe panels, not CIGS.
- jhayward 8y agoRight, thanks for the correction.
- imtringued 8y agoIf you only look at toxic solar waste you will only see CIGS panels. If you look at what is actually used you will see that CIGS is just a tiny minority of installed capacity.
- prolepunk 8y agoOther than electronic components (where the rules for electronic recycling apply) photovoltaic cells are basically sand. Also I would assume that the electronics in panels are RoHS compliant, which means no lead there.