<
https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/06/new-recycling-method-makes-solar-cells-even-more-environmentally-friendly/>
"For years, the arguments against renewable power focused on its high costs.
But as the price of wind and solar plunged, the arguments shifted. Suddenly,
concerns about the waste left behind when solar panels hit end-of-life became
so common that researchers at the US's National Renewable Energy Lab felt
compelled to publish a commentary in
Nature Physics debunking them.
Part of the misinformation is pure nonsense. The primary ingredients of most
panels are silicon, aluminum, and silver, none of which is a major
environmental threat. Solar panels also have a useful lifespan of decades, and
the vast majority of those in existence are less than 10 years old, so waste
hasn't even become much of a problem yet. And, even once these panels age out,
recycling techniques are available.
Perhaps the only realistic concern is that existing recycling technologies rely
on nitric acid and can produce some toxic waste. But a group of researchers
from Wuhan University have figured out an alternative means of recycling that
avoids the production of toxic waste and is more energy-efficient as a bonus."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
