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Solar modules contain lead for soldering and some contain cadmium telluride (CdTe).[1] If handled and recycled correctly, the risk of exposure of lead and cadmi

Solar modules contain lead for soldering and some contain cadmium telluride (CdTe).[1] If handled and recycled correctly, the risk of exposure of lead and cadmium into the environment is minimal. However, there is a possibility that such materials are released by accident (fire, cracks) or improper disposal. That is why there are demands that solar modules containing CdTe should be basically abandoned, as there exist alternatives. However, the overall risk appears to be comparable to that of other products containing these materials, such as many consumer electronics. [1] CdTe has a low toxicity. However, it may pose a significant hazard if its cadmium is released by some chemical reaction, which cannot generally be ruled out.

Schroedingersat 4y ago
They've been completely abandoned for a while now. If you stack the small portion of CdTe ones neatly somewhere, someone will want the Te soon enough. Lead is already mostly phased out.
- Archelaos 4y ago
  This does not seem to be the case. I googled "cdte cells market share" and immediately found a couple of Web-sites that say otherwise (although their numbers differ quite considerably): https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/cadmium-telluride-photovoltaic-market https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/cadmium-te... https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/587880725/cadmium-telluride-solar-cell-cdte-market-to-reach-usd-18-18-41-mn-by-2029-with-12-10-of-high-cagr https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/587880725/cadmium-telluride-... https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-demand-rises-expansion-of-market-for-cadmium-telluride-for-solar-cells-rapidly-increasing-301478230.html https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-demand-rises-exp...
  - hwillis 4y ago
    6 billion in 2028 works out to <2.4% of the market. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/07/14/2479494/0/en/Solar-Energy-System-Market-Size-Worth-USD-255-3-Billion-Globally-by-2028-at-20-1-CAGR-Solar-Energy-System-Industry-Report-by-Vantage-Market-Research.html https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/07/14/247...
  - Schroedingersat 4y ago
    So the highest growth projections put them at a small fraction of today's monocrystalline market a few years after it's fairly likely that there'll be yet another technology dominating because it lowers resource requirements? If you're that worried about a few grams of Cd per kW, please ban them or implement a version of WIEEE. You'll have to ban nuclear control rods and a few other things too.
hwillis 4y ago
> Solar modules contain lead for soldering Not all of them, and lead is also non-essential. Most solder in other contexts is already lead-free. It's also pretty minor compared to the other sources of lead in our lives already. > some contain cadmium telluride (CdTe) only "thin film" cells, which are virtually obsolete- they're the flexible kind that you get in "cell charging" backpacks and stuff. Price decreases in silicon in large-scale use, so they have absolutely no bearing on renewable energy. They're not worth mentioning- a 100x increase in solar power will not increase the amount of cadmium cells at all.
- Archelaos 4y ago
  The reports I quoted in reply to another comment here claimed a rather high market share for CdTe cells and predicted massively increasing volumns in the future. So even if they might become obsolete for "classic" flat panels, they seem to remain with us for "flexible" solutions, arn't they?
  - hwillis 4y ago
    The current global solar market is 170+ billion, compared to your reports giving CdTe <1 billion. That first link you posted estimates 60% annual growth, which seems... very not realistic. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/solar-power-market-100764 https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/sol...
- hardolaf 4y ago
  Lead solder is still preferred by many governments as its use is far safer for workers compared to lead-free solders. It's a constant fight between the manufacturing nations trying to protect their workers whereas the EU wants ROHS to make end-of-life recycling easier.
  - qiqitori 4y ago
    Why is lead-free solder less safe for workers?

Schroedingersat 4y ago

They've been completely abandoned for a while now. If you stack the small portion of CdTe ones neatly somewhere, someone will want the Te soon enough. Lead is already mostly phased out.

Archelaos 4y ago
This does not seem to be the case. I googled "cdte cells market share" and immediately found a couple of Web-sites that say otherwise (although their numbers differ quite considerably): https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/cadmium-telluride-photovoltaic-market https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/cadmium-te... https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/587880725/cadmium-telluride-solar-cell-cdte-market-to-reach-usd-18-18-41-mn-by-2029-with-12-10-of-high-cagr https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/587880725/cadmium-telluride-... https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-demand-rises-expansion-of-market-for-cadmium-telluride-for-solar-cells-rapidly-increasing-301478230.html https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-demand-rises-exp...
- hwillis 4y ago
  6 billion in 2028 works out to <2.4% of the market. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/07/14/2479494/0/en/Solar-Energy-System-Market-Size-Worth-USD-255-3-Billion-Globally-by-2028-at-20-1-CAGR-Solar-Energy-System-Industry-Report-by-Vantage-Market-Research.html https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/07/14/247...
- Schroedingersat 4y ago
  So the highest growth projections put them at a small fraction of today's monocrystalline market a few years after it's fairly likely that there'll be yet another technology dominating because it lowers resource requirements? If you're that worried about a few grams of Cd per kW, please ban them or implement a version of WIEEE. You'll have to ban nuclear control rods and a few other things too.

hwillis 4y ago

> Solar modules contain lead for soldering Not all of them, and lead is also non-essential. Most solder in other contexts is already lead-free. It's also pretty minor compared to the other sources of lead in our lives already. > some contain cadmium telluride (CdTe) only "thin film" cells, which are virtually obsolete- they're the flexible kind that you get in "cell charging" backpacks and stuff. Price decreases in silicon in large-scale use, so they have absolutely no bearing on renewable energy. They're not worth mentioning- a 100x increase in solar power will not increase the amount of cadmium cells at all.

Archelaos 4y ago
The reports I quoted in reply to another comment here claimed a rather high market share for CdTe cells and predicted massively increasing volumns in the future. So even if they might become obsolete for "classic" flat panels, they seem to remain with us for "flexible" solutions, arn't they?
- hwillis 4y ago
  The current global solar market is 170+ billion, compared to your reports giving CdTe <1 billion. That first link you posted estimates 60% annual growth, which seems... very not realistic. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/solar-power-market-100764 https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/sol...
hardolaf 4y ago
Lead solder is still preferred by many governments as its use is far safer for workers compared to lead-free solders. It's a constant fight between the manufacturing nations trying to protect their workers whereas the EU wants ROHS to make end-of-life recycling easier.
- qiqitori 4y ago
  Why is lead-free solder less safe for workers?