Solar panels are almost entirely recyclable. The same is true for batteries used for energy storage. It not being “economical” is a capitalism problem and not a renewable energy problem.
This is bordering on miss information. It’s a tiny fraction of resources compared to what we are currently extracting to produce energy and discarded solar panels are pretty safe (unless it’s American solar panels that sometimes contain heavy metals like cadmium).
And the neoliberal answer to solar panels being economically non-recycleable is to increase the cost to putting them in landfills until they are economically recyclable. Even if it’s just grinding them into dust to use as a filler in concrete or something.
edit, some rough calculations:
20kg of solar panels produce about as much electricity as 5 tons of coal.
Solar panels require mining and non-renewable materials to make
All human activity has an impact, replacing fossil fuels by solar is extremely positive
and are economically non-recyclable
Their lifespan is 30+ years easily. Recycling may very well become economically feasible once we start generating millions of tons of solar panel residue, large scale operation is a huge aspect of profitability
Solar panels require mining and non-renewable materials to make, and are economically non-recyclable, meaning they end up in landfill.
Solar panels are almost entirely recyclable. The same is true for batteries used for energy storage. It not being “economical” is a capitalism problem and not a renewable energy problem.
This is bordering on miss information. It’s a tiny fraction of resources compared to what we are currently extracting to produce energy and discarded solar panels are pretty safe (unless it’s American solar panels that sometimes contain heavy metals like cadmium).
And the neoliberal answer to solar panels being economically non-recycleable is to increase the cost to putting them in landfills until they are economically recyclable. Even if it’s just grinding them into dust to use as a filler in concrete or something.
edit, some rough calculations:
20kg of solar panels produce about as much electricity as 5 tons of coal.
Nothing I said is bordering on “miss information”. It’s all true.
If we were serious about “net zero” we’d be all in on nuclear. It’s the only way to it.
Nuclear plants require mining and non-renewable materials to make, and are economically non-recyclable, meaning they end up in landfill.
Hey I’m about to blow your mind: coal comes out of the fucking ground, often requiring mining!, and it can’t be recycled
No shit. Coal works at night though.
Australia yet to discover batteries
All human activity has an impact, replacing fossil fuels by solar is extremely positive
Their lifespan is 30+ years easily. Recycling may very well become economically feasible once we start generating millions of tons of solar panel residue, large scale operation is a huge aspect of profitability