3 ms·

I'd appreciate some serious links on costs and current state of the industry, not anecdotal and wishful thinking "should be possible". https://iea-pvps.org/key

I'd appreciate some serious links on costs and current state of the industry, not anecdotal and wishful thinking "should be possible". https://iea-pvps.org/key-topics/human-health-risk-assessment-methods-for-pv-part-3-module-disposal-risks/ https://iea-pvps.org/key-topics/human-health-risk-assessment... Specifically, this report presents an analysis of potential human health risks associated with non-sanitary landfill disposal for three PV technologies, focusing on release of the highest-prioritized chemical element for each: lead (Pb) in crystalline-silicon (c-Si) PV modules, cadmium (Cd) in thin film cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV modules, and selenium (Se) in thin film copper indium selenide (CIS) PV modules. The prioritization of these chemical elements for analysis is based on stakeholder interest. Because the methodology is chemical-specific, the risk assessment results for these chemicals cannot be directly generalized to other chemicals, although the risk assessment methodology can be applied to other chemicals. If the chemicals chosen are indeed the ones presenting greatest risk, then the results herein should represent the upper bound of health risk from exposure to a single constituent.

toomuchtodo 5y ago
If you’re comparing PV materials to nuclear waste, a reasonable conversation can’t be had. You’re grasping at straws to support a failed technology. Panels are safely recycled today: https://www.veolia.com/en/newsroom/news/recycling-photovoltaic-panels-circular-economy-france https://www.veolia.com/en/newsroom/news/recycling-photovolta... As are batteries: https://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/batteries-storage/lithiumion-battery-recycling-finally-takes-off-in-north-america-and-europe https://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/batteries-storage/lithiumio... As are wind turbines: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ge-announces-first-us-wind-turbine-blade-recycling-program-with-veolia/591869/ https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ge-announces-first-us-wind-...
- bassman9000 5y ago
  You’re grasping at straws to support a failed technology. Tell that to the Finns or French. You're linking me "can do" articles. The industry itself states there's not enough data: https://iea-pvps.org/key-topics/lci-of-current-european-pv-recycling-wambach-heath-2017-by-task-12/ https://iea-pvps.org/key-topics/lci-of-current-european-pv-r... Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations must be properly dismantled and any waste treated and disposed at the end of project life. However, because most of the world’s nearly 400 GW of PV systems have been built in the past decade – each expected to operate for between 20 and 30 years – current PV module waste volumes do not yet justify widespread operation of PV recycling facilities. It is indeed an unfair comparison, because there's not enough data to compare. I don't see anywhere where the cost of all of this is factored into solar/wind. Neither can you, because probably no one knows at this point.

toomuchtodo 5y ago

If you’re comparing PV materials to nuclear waste, a reasonable conversation can’t be had. You’re grasping at straws to support a failed technology. Panels are safely recycled today: https://www.veolia.com/en/newsroom/news/recycling-photovoltaic-panels-circular-economy-france https://www.veolia.com/en/newsroom/news/recycling-photovolta... As are batteries: https://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/batteries-storage/lithiumion-battery-recycling-finally-takes-off-in-north-america-and-europe https://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/batteries-storage/lithiumio... As are wind turbines: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ge-announces-first-us-wind-turbine-blade-recycling-program-with-veolia/591869/ https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ge-announces-first-us-wind-...

bassman9000 5y ago
You’re grasping at straws to support a failed technology. Tell that to the Finns or French. You're linking me "can do" articles. The industry itself states there's not enough data: https://iea-pvps.org/key-topics/lci-of-current-european-pv-recycling-wambach-heath-2017-by-task-12/ https://iea-pvps.org/key-topics/lci-of-current-european-pv-r... Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations must be properly dismantled and any waste treated and disposed at the end of project life. However, because most of the world’s nearly 400 GW of PV systems have been built in the past decade – each expected to operate for between 20 and 30 years – current PV module waste volumes do not yet justify widespread operation of PV recycling facilities. It is indeed an unfair comparison, because there's not enough data to compare. I don't see anywhere where the cost of all of this is factored into solar/wind. Neither can you, because probably no one knows at this point.