4 ms·

>Solar panels are recyclable ... The question revolves more around whether they are actually recycled. From the article: >Silicon cells can only be recycled b

by jaclaz 4y ago

>Solar panels are recyclable ... The question revolves more around whether they are actually recycled. From the article: >Silicon cells can only be recycled by a combination of thermal, chemical, and metallurgical steps. That is an expensive process with an impact on the environment. Although you can find statements claiming that around 10% of solar panels are “recycled", they are more likely to be “downcycled”. The modules are shredded, and the resulting material is used as a filler material in asphalt and cement industries.

ZeroGravitas 4y ago
They're mostly glass and aluminium which can be and are widely recycled. Oh no, does that involve thermal steps? It probably involves those suspicious sounding "metallurgical" steps too, what even is that, it sounds positively diabolical. Wait, chemicals? No one told me they had chemicals in them. I never touch anything with chemicals in it. Totally banned them from my life. They are well known to cause cancer apparently.
- jaclaz 4y ago
  >They're mostly glass and aluminium which can be and are widely recycled. Can be, not necessarily are. Check "Recycling Process" here: https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-recycling https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-recycling Particularly: >The industry is new and still growing, with researchers examining how to commercialize recycling to economically recover most of the components of a solar panel. Elements of this recycling process can be found in the United States, but it is not yet happening on a large scale. The question revolves around the existence of suitable recycling plants and whether the capacity of these plants is enough (particuarly in times when a "first generation" of panels is progressively approaching an "end of service life"). See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32098575 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32098575
  - ZeroGravitas 4y ago
    Your link says: > Many of these components can be recycled. Glass composes most of the weight of a solar panel (about 75 percent), and glass recycling is already a well-established industry. Other materials that are easily recyclable include the aluminum frame, copper wire, and plastic junction box. Which is almost exactly what I said, with a few extra details and less sarcasm about "chemicals'.
    - jaclaz 4y ago
      There are no doubts that some parts (glass, aluminium) can be recycled. The BIG doubt is IF they are actually recycled (as in the main article probably largely "downcycled"). As per the EPA site (and also the other thread I linked to), they are NOT recycled (at the moment), or - even if they are - they are not - yet - recycled on a large scale. Here it is an article by MIT (2021) stating how only about 10% of discarded panels are recycled: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-panels-recycling/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-pa... and, soon, the amount of discarded panels is going to increase.

by jaclaz 4y ago

ZeroGravitas 4y ago

They're mostly glass and aluminium which can be and are widely recycled. Oh no, does that involve thermal steps? It probably involves those suspicious sounding "metallurgical" steps too, what even is that, it sounds positively diabolical. Wait, chemicals? No one told me they had chemicals in them. I never touch anything with chemicals in it. Totally banned them from my life. They are well known to cause cancer apparently.

jaclaz 4y ago
>They're mostly glass and aluminium which can be and are widely recycled. Can be, not necessarily are. Check "Recycling Process" here: https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-recycling https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-recycling Particularly: >The industry is new and still growing, with researchers examining how to commercialize recycling to economically recover most of the components of a solar panel. Elements of this recycling process can be found in the United States, but it is not yet happening on a large scale. The question revolves around the existence of suitable recycling plants and whether the capacity of these plants is enough (particuarly in times when a "first generation" of panels is progressively approaching an "end of service life"). See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32098575 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32098575
- ZeroGravitas 4y ago
  Your link says: > Many of these components can be recycled. Glass composes most of the weight of a solar panel (about 75 percent), and glass recycling is already a well-established industry. Other materials that are easily recyclable include the aluminum frame, copper wire, and plastic junction box. Which is almost exactly what I said, with a few extra details and less sarcasm about "chemicals'.
  - jaclaz 4y ago
    There are no doubts that some parts (glass, aluminium) can be recycled. The BIG doubt is IF they are actually recycled (as in the main article probably largely "downcycled"). As per the EPA site (and also the other thread I linked to), they are NOT recycled (at the moment), or - even if they are - they are not - yet - recycled on a large scale. Here it is an article by MIT (2021) stating how only about 10% of discarded panels are recycled: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-panels-recycling/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-pa... and, soon, the amount of discarded panels is going to increase.