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Solar might not be such a dream clean energy https://twitter.com/datarade/status/1101744267444142080 https://twitter.com/datarade/status/1101744267444142080 I

Solar might not be such a dream clean energy https://twitter.com/datarade/status/1101744267444142080 https://twitter.com/datarade/status/1101744267444142080 I don't know the chemistry behind it, but it's interesting to hear the counter argument that it will actually create more polution to build a solar panel relative to its lifetime. Would love to read more.

SiempreViernes 7y ago
Building anything will create pollution, that solar does too is not a surprise as it is merely “green” compared to alternatives.
- simplify 7y ago
  The point I wrote is not merely that building solar creates pollution, but relative to its lifetime it may do more harm than good – in its current state of the art. In other words, a lot of dirty to get a little clean.
  - hannob 7y ago
    The point is that you believe something that is completely implausible because a random guy posted a rant on twitter without any sources.
    - simplify 7y ago
      How would I know it's "completely implausible"? Should I just blindly shut out any dissenting voices?
philipkglass 7y ago
He's mostly correct up until point 9. Then he goes off the rails. I don't know where he got the idea that silicon manufacturers dispose of silicon tetrachloride in oil wells. I just searched "silicon tetrachloride" "oil well" and he seems to be the only person on the Web advancing that theory. It sounds like a somewhat garbled retelling of this widely reported story from 2008 about unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers dumping silicon tetrachloride: "Some Chinese “clean energy” companies produce a toxic hazard" https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/some-chinese-clean-energy-companies-produce-a-toxic-hazard/ https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/some-chinese-clean... Facilities in South Korea, Japan, Germany, and the United States purify silicon by the same process and do not dump silicon tetrachloride. They recycle silicon tetrachloride into more trichlorosilane, or turn it into other salable silicon derivatives. Dumping silicon tetrachloride on the ground is no more the norm in the silicon industry than adding melamine to milk is the norm in the dairy industry. EDIT: Here's a products page from Mitsubishi Polysilicon, which manufactures high purity silicon in the USA. They sell the purified silicon tetrachloride for making fiber optics: http://www.mpsac.com/products/ http://www.mpsac.com/products/

SiempreViernes 7y ago

Building anything will create pollution, that solar does too is not a surprise as it is merely “green” compared to alternatives.

simplify 7y ago
The point I wrote is not merely that building solar creates pollution, but relative to its lifetime it may do more harm than good – in its current state of the art. In other words, a lot of dirty to get a little clean.
- hannob 7y ago
  The point is that you believe something that is completely implausible because a random guy posted a rant on twitter without any sources.
  - simplify 7y ago
    How would I know it's "completely implausible"? Should I just blindly shut out any dissenting voices?

philipkglass 7y ago

He's mostly correct up until point 9. Then he goes off the rails. I don't know where he got the idea that silicon manufacturers dispose of silicon tetrachloride in oil wells. I just searched "silicon tetrachloride" "oil well" and he seems to be the only person on the Web advancing that theory. It sounds like a somewhat garbled retelling of this widely reported story from 2008 about unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers dumping silicon tetrachloride: "Some Chinese “clean energy” companies produce a toxic hazard" https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/some-chinese-clean-energy-companies-produce-a-toxic-hazard/ https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/some-chinese-clean... Facilities in South Korea, Japan, Germany, and the United States purify silicon by the same process and do not dump silicon tetrachloride. They recycle silicon tetrachloride into more trichlorosilane, or turn it into other salable silicon derivatives. Dumping silicon tetrachloride on the ground is no more the norm in the silicon industry than adding melamine to milk is the norm in the dairy industry. EDIT: Here's a products page from Mitsubishi Polysilicon, which manufactures high purity silicon in the USA. They sell the purified silicon tetrachloride for making fiber optics: http://www.mpsac.com/products/ http://www.mpsac.com/products/