3 ms·
From the abstract: > End-of-life (EOL) solar panels may become a source of hazardous waste although there are enormous benefits globally from the growth in sol
by DoctorOetker 6y ago
From the abstract:
> End-of-life (EOL) solar panels may become a source of hazardous waste although there are enormous benefits globally from the growth in solar power generation.
It is good that people worry about this new waste stream, and argue incentivizing recycling of this waste stream.
That said, the harmfulness of different types of waste is not compared in kilograms...
- Manfredo_1 6y ago> That said, the harmfulness of different types of waste is not compared in kilograms... Absolutely, the harm from solar panels dumped in landfills is vastly greater than uranium buried 300 meters deep in bedrock. Uranium's energy density is such that we can afford to spend money on tightly securing the little waste it produces. By comparison, most plans for renewable power generation involve covering 2-4% of the Earth's land in solar panels. This is a vast amount of waste to dispose of, and it's not remotely close to feasible to secure it like nuclear waste.