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The solar panel disaster and the real cost of going “green”

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The solar panel disaster and the real cost of going “green”

April 24
13:18 2019
With 78 million tonnes of solar panel waste expected by 2050, do the positives of solar energy still outweigh the negatives?

Whilst solar electricity and power is being heralded as the savior of the global energy crisis, the reality is that we could be facing an even bigger problem.

At the current rate of adoption, globally we are adding 1000 soccer pitches worth of solar panels into the world every day. Equating to a whopping 70,000 new solar panels every hour, this is all very well and good until we consider what will happen to them in a couple of decades time.

Solar panels are only warranted for 25-30 years. Whilst some may last longer than this, the market has been flooded with cheaper models that satiate the increase in demand, but that do not benefit from longevity and quality.

In 2016, the International Renewable Energy Agency estimated that there were already a staggering 250,000 tonnes of solar panel waste globally, a number that was set to increase to 78 million tonnes by 2050. So where do all of these panels go?

Senior fellow at the Institute for Research, Mary Hutzler noted that due to the enormous amount of growth, what do do with the panels once they have expired “is going to be a major problem.”

Panels come in many different shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials including glass, silver, aluminium, and a plastic based product called ethylene-vinyl acetate. Asides from this, many of them also contain dangerous and even cancerous materials including cadmium, chromium, and even lead. Whilst panels are contained in glass and are safe whilst being used and maintained, the problems arise when the glass breaks and the substances inside leak into the environment.

The risk is even higher when we consider poorly or cheaply made panels that are located in areas that experience extreme weather. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and hail can damage the panels and allow leakage directly into the local water system and soil, spelling disaster for the local ecosystem.

Whilst damage of active panels is one concern, what happens to these panels after they are replaced, or their warranty runs out is more of a concern. At the moment, recycling such products is not financially viable. Panels do contain some valuable components such as silver and copper, but not in amounts large enough to justify the cost of breaking them down.

As a result, most solar panels end up destined for the landfill, until a time when a more suitable recycling process can be designed.

So what is the solution? How do we weigh up the risks between the disposal of damaged or expired solar panels, with the risks of using non-renewable sources of electricity to power our societies? Is the solar panel disposal issue the lesser of two evils when it comes to environmental damage?

Ben McInerney from Go Solar Quotes weighed in:

“I think it is about solving one problem at a time. The rate of global warming needs addressing now and whilst solar may not be idea, I believe that the positives of solving an imminent threat, far outweigh the negative.”

He added that he believes we should be reusing solar panels in third world countries once the efficiency drops below 60%, therefore extending their lifespan.

As the use of solar panels has only really taken off the in the last decade, we are yet to see how things will pan out. This also means that there is still time to find a better way of disposing of, and hopefully recycling panels, once they reach the end of their lifespan.

Media Contact
Company Name: Go Solar Quotes
Contact Person: Ben McInerney
Email: Send Email
Phone: +61451913919
Country: Australia
Website: https://gosolarquotes.com.au/