The Dark Side of Solar: Why Recycling Solar Panels is Harder Than You’d Think
It’s no secret that solar panels have a dark side. The process of making solar panels produces a variety of toxic chemicals, including cadmium, lead, and selenium. And when solar panels are disposed of, those toxins can leach into the environment and cause serious harm to both human health and ecosystems.
But what’s even more harmful to the environment is the recycling process of solar panels. Recycling solar panels is so difficult and dangerous that most companies simply don’t bother. Here’s a closer look at the issues with recycling solar panels and why it’s not as green as you might think.
The Toxins in Solar Panels are Harmful to the Environment
As we mentioned before, the toxins in solar panels can leach into the environment and cause harm to both human health and ecosystems. Cadmium, in particular, is a known carcinogen, while lead can damage the nervous system. Selenium, meanwhile, can cause respiratory problems.
And it’s not just the toxins in solar panels that are harmful to the environment. The manufacturing process of solar panels also releases a variety of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. One study found that the greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing solar photovoltaic (PV) cells accounted for about 46 percent of their overall emissions over their lifespan.
Recycling Solar Panels is Expensive and Complicated
Not only are solar panel toxins harmful to the environment, but recycling solar panels is also expensive and complicated. In most cases, it’s cheaper and easier to simply dispose of solar panels in landfill sites.
There are only a few companies in the world that can recycle solar panels on a large scale. And even then, the process is far from perfect. For example, one common method of recycling solar panels involves using chemicals to strip away the toxins from PV cells. However, this process often results in toxic waste that still needs to be properly disposed of.
Another common method of recycling solar panels involves crushing them into small pieces and then separating the metals. However, this process results in a lot of pollution due to the release of dust and other particles into the air.
Conclusion
Solar panel recycling is an issue that needs to be addressed if we want to reduce our impact on the environment. While solar panels have many benefits, they also come with a dark side that can cause harm to both human health and ecosystems if they’re not recycled properly. The good news is that companies are working on recycling solutions for solar panels — but we need to do more to support them if we want to make a difference.
