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I don't know anything about solar panel recycling, but it's worth noting that other means of power generation via solar energy exist [1][2][3], most of which de

I don't know anything about solar panel recycling, but it's worth noting that other means of power generation via solar energy exist [1][2][3], most of which depend on mirror-concentrated heat and don't necessarily involve toxic chemicals or rare earth mineral extraction. Photovoltaics have largely left these technologies in the dust, but if the long tail of solar panel production becomes a significant environmental concern, alternatives do exist. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar-powered_Stirling_engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar-powered_Stirling_engine [2] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-concentrating-solar-tower-is-worth-its-salt-with-24-7-power/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-concentrating... [3] https://www.seia.org/initiatives/concentrating-solar-power https://www.seia.org/initiatives/concentrating-solar-power

cinquemb 5y ago
> Photovoltaics have largely left these technologies in the dust How so? CSP tech continues to advance on multiple levels and usage continues to grow globally at grid scale with advances with tech in the solar field, concentrator design [1] and molten salt storage [2]. PV is not currently competitive at grid scale on its own (I've seen it being used more recently in tandem with CSP, but more like CSP providing most [gt 70%] of the MW), because storage costs are joke (wrt underlying materials for batteries and recyclability[3][4]) compared to molten salt (I'm totally ignoring environmental concerns). I really think PV has more of an edge in small consumer market that wants/needs no storage at all. [1] https://www.solarpaces.org/beam-down-demos-first-direct-solar-storage-at-1-2-mwh-scale/ https://www.solarpaces.org/beam-down-demos-first-direct-sola... [2] https://www.solarpaces.org/for-100-renewables-doe-speeds-up-storage-policy/ https://www.solarpaces.org/for-100-renewables-doe-speeds-up-... [3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25383534 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25383534 [4] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25403694 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25403694

cinquemb 5y ago

> Photovoltaics have largely left these technologies in the dust How so? CSP tech continues to advance on multiple levels and usage continues to grow globally at grid scale with advances with tech in the solar field, concentrator design [1] and molten salt storage [2]. PV is not currently competitive at grid scale on its own (I've seen it being used more recently in tandem with CSP, but more like CSP providing most [gt 70%] of the MW), because storage costs are joke (wrt underlying materials for batteries and recyclability[3][4]) compared to molten salt (I'm totally ignoring environmental concerns). I really think PV has more of an edge in small consumer market that wants/needs no storage at all. [1] https://www.solarpaces.org/beam-down-demos-first-direct-solar-storage-at-1-2-mwh-scale/ https://www.solarpaces.org/beam-down-demos-first-direct-sola... [2] https://www.solarpaces.org/for-100-renewables-doe-speeds-up-storage-policy/ https://www.solarpaces.org/for-100-renewables-doe-speeds-up-... [3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25383534 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25383534 [4] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25403694 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25403694