Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
KOMO is one of my customers. I know several of their tech staff. -Curt On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, 9:34:39 PM EDT, Clay via Mercedes wrote: Komo4 has a good series on Seattle is dying exposes. Probably lost interest in that with the plague and riots. Seems the weather is very interesting this week instead of stories detailing the multiple shootings taking place daily. Best not to think about the impact of reducing law enforcement by 50% while you can spin heat and sun stories. clay I have no pronouns please do not refer to me. > On Jul 21, 2020, at 3:51 PM, Mitch Haley via Mercedes > wrote: > > I've lost a lot of respect for local TV news outlets in the last couple of > months. Like King5 in Seattle, you can look at their YouTube account and > while the video feed is showing a genuine riot, the news anchor is > explaining how it's all just a peaceful protest...look, lady, are you > talking about the same event you're showing us? Because if you are, you're > outing yourself as a liar. > > On Tue, July 21, 2020 7:33 pm, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote: >> Point well taken. > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Komo4 has a good series on Seattle is dying exposes. Probably lost interest in that with the plague and riots. Seems the weather is very interesting this week instead of stories detailing the multiple shootings taking place daily. Best not to think about the impact of reducing law enforcement by 50% while you can spin heat and sun stories. clay I have no pronouns please do not refer to me. > On Jul 21, 2020, at 3:51 PM, Mitch Haley via Mercedes > wrote: > > I've lost a lot of respect for local TV news outlets in the last couple of > months. Like King5 in Seattle, you can look at their YouTube account and > while the video feed is showing a genuine riot, the news anchor is > explaining how it's all just a peaceful protest...look, lady, are you > talking about the same event you're showing us? Because if you are, you're > outing yourself as a liar. > > On Tue, July 21, 2020 7:33 pm, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote: >> Point well taken. > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
I've lost a lot of respect for local TV news outlets in the last couple of months. Like King5 in Seattle, you can look at their YouTube account and while the video feed is showing a genuine riot, the news anchor is explaining how it's all just a peaceful protest...look, lady, are you talking about the same event you're showing us? Because if you are, you're outing yourself as a liar. On Tue, July 21, 2020 7:33 pm, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote: > Point well taken. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Point well taken. -D > On Jul 21, 2020, at 6:48 PM, Mitch Haley via Mercedes > wrote: > > I can't figure out how The Onion and Babylon Bee stay in business, with > all the competition from CNN, MSNBC, New York Times and in recent years > CBS, NBC, ABC, Washington Post, etc, etc. > > Mitch. > > On Tue, July 21, 2020 6:34 pm, Curt Raymond via Mercedes wrote: >> Ugh, its hard to tell the real news from the fake news.Actually I'm not >> so sure it isn't all fake news. > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
I can't figure out how The Onion and Babylon Bee stay in business, with all the competition from CNN, MSNBC, New York Times and in recent years CBS, NBC, ABC, Washington Post, etc, etc. Mitch. On Tue, July 21, 2020 6:34 pm, Curt Raymond via Mercedes wrote: > Ugh, its hard to tell the real news from the fake news.Actually I'm not > so sure it isn't all fake news. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Follow the money ... On Tue, Jul 21, 2020 at 5:35 PM Curt Raymond via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Ugh, its hard to tell the real news from the fake news.Actually I'm not > so sure it isn't all fake news. > > -Curt > > On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, 6:26:07 PM EDT, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes > wrote: > > Is making controversy where none exists what the world is all about these > days? > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Jul 21, 2020, at 3:06 PM, Curt Raymond via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > > > And although solar panels do have an effective "lifespan" they aren't > garbage at the end of it all that happens is the efficiency decreases, > they'll work for decades (at least) afterward. There is actually a big > trade in used solar panels. Whoever wrote that article doesn't really know > what they're talking about and is trying to make controversy where none > exists. > > -Curt > > > >On Monday, July 20, 2020, 5:16:35 PM EDT, Mitch Haley via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > > > Aren't they basically aluminum, iron, copper and sand? > > The glass and the wafers are what I'm calling sand. > > Mitch. > > > > ___ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > > ___ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > -- OK Don "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain “Basic research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” Wernher Von Braun 2013 F150, 18 mpg 2017 Subaru Legacy, 30 mpg 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Ugh, its hard to tell the real news from the fake news.Actually I'm not so sure it isn't all fake news. -Curt On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, 6:26:07 PM EDT, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes wrote: Is making controversy where none exists what the world is all about these days? Sent from my iPhone > On Jul 21, 2020, at 3:06 PM, Curt Raymond via Mercedes > wrote: > > And although solar panels do have an effective "lifespan" they aren't > garbage at the end of it all that happens is the efficiency decreases, > they'll work for decades (at least) afterward. There is actually a big trade > in used solar panels. Whoever wrote that article doesn't really know what > they're talking about and is trying to make controversy where none exists. > -Curt > > On Monday, July 20, 2020, 5:16:35 PM EDT, Mitch Haley via Mercedes > wrote: > > Aren't they basically aluminum, iron, copper and sand? > The glass and the wafers are what I'm calling sand. > Mitch. > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
They are trying to sell new cells and build new recycling plants. On Tue, Jul 21, 2020 at 3:07 PM Curt Raymond via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > And although solar panels do have an effective "lifespan" they aren't > garbage at the end of it all that happens is the efficiency decreases, > they'll work for decades (at least) afterward. There is actually a big > trade in used solar panels. Whoever wrote that article doesn't really know > what they're talking about and is trying to make controversy where none > exists. > -Curt > -- OK Don "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain “Basic research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” Wernher Von Braun 2013 F150, 18 mpg 2017 Subaru Legacy, 30 mpg 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Is making controversy where none exists what the world is all about these days? Sent from my iPhone > On Jul 21, 2020, at 3:06 PM, Curt Raymond via Mercedes > wrote: > > And although solar panels do have an effective "lifespan" they aren't > garbage at the end of it all that happens is the efficiency decreases, > they'll work for decades (at least) afterward. There is actually a big trade > in used solar panels. Whoever wrote that article doesn't really know what > they're talking about and is trying to make controversy where none exists. > -Curt > >On Monday, July 20, 2020, 5:16:35 PM EDT, Mitch Haley via Mercedes > wrote: > > Aren't they basically aluminum, iron, copper and sand? > The glass and the wafers are what I'm calling sand. > Mitch. > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
And although solar panels do have an effective "lifespan" they aren't garbage at the end of it all that happens is the efficiency decreases, they'll work for decades (at least) afterward. There is actually a big trade in used solar panels. Whoever wrote that article doesn't really know what they're talking about and is trying to make controversy where none exists. -Curt On Monday, July 20, 2020, 5:16:35 PM EDT, Mitch Haley via Mercedes wrote: Aren't they basically aluminum, iron, copper and sand? The glass and the wafers are what I'm calling sand. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Yeah, Grant -- watch it! Seriously - it's encouraging that the industry is trying to find a way to re-use the worn out panels. On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 9:02 PM G Mann via Mercedes wrote: > I am just shocked to learn that green energy has a toxic backside... so... > now.. green and clean has to pay its due at disposal. > Perhaps, the mantra of "Free Energy" will now have to be changed to > "Deferred Cost Energy" ? > > I won't take this any further because it might become "political talk or > something" unacceptable on this board. > > On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 5:54 PM OK Don via Mercedes > > wrote: > > > Once again, TANSTAAFL. > > > > On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 2:14 PM Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes < > > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > > > > Searching for ways to recycle solar panels. > > > RENEWABLE ENERGY > > > 'They need to be ready.' Study warns of growing solar waste > > > > > > Published: Monday, July 20, 2020 > > > [image: Solar Panels. Photo credit: Veolia Group/YouTube] > > > > > > Eight million tons of solar panels could reach the end of their useful > > > lives by 2030, and federal researchers are highlighting the need to > > recycle > > > them. Solar panels outside a recycling facility in Europe are pictured. > > > Veolia > > > Group/YouTube > > > > > > Federal scientists are warning that a wave of waste from solar panels > > could > > > catch landfills off guard unless researchers figure out ways to recycle > > it. > > > > > > In a study published last week in *Nature Energy*, analysts at the > > National > > > Renewable Energy Laboratory said roughly 8 million tons of solar > > > photovoltaic panels are expected to hit landfills globally by the end > of > > > this decade, rising to 80 million by midcentury, when they could > account > > > for about 10% of all electronic waste. > > > > > > All those end-of-life panels could clog up landfills in the U.S. and > > > elsewhere, leaving valuable metals behind and contributing to > greenhouse > > > gas emissions, NREL scientists said. While the International Energy > > Agency > > > has so far concluded that the most widespread solar panel poses little > > risk > > > to human health, a lack of standard testing protocol leaves > uncertainties > > > about whether harmful chemicals could leach out of decomposing > equipment, > > > according to researchers. > > > > > > But solar recycling could turn into a $15 billion global industry of > its > > > own by 2050, according to prior studies, and lead to the creation of 2 > > > billion new panels. In the U.S., recycling could also provide a supply > of > > > minerals deemed "critical" for national security purposes, while > reducing > > > the solar industry's environmental footprint, the study said. > > > > > > "Solar PV has widespread support ... because it's a green, clean > > > technology," said Garvin Heath, lead author of the study and an expert > on > > > life-cycle assessment for energy technologies at NREL. "Part of its > > > implicit promise is based upon the industry addressing and ensuring > that > > > it's as clean as it can be, in all phases of use. > > > > > > "The end-of-life phase is one we haven't confronted yet. But we're > going > > to > > > soon," he added. "This problem is going to come to us. The industry, > > > policymakers, researchers, society as a whole — they need to be ready > for > > > that." > > > > > > The growth of solar photovoltaics, which produce about 3% of the > world's > > > power, didn't begin in earnest until the 2000s. Typical warranties of > > > panels often last between 25 and 30 years. While hailstorms, floods and > > > other natural disasters have sometimes damaged installations en masse, > > the > > > real wave of end-of-life panels hasn't arrived. > > > > > > Researchers need to focus their attention now on solutions for handling > > > that wave "because the accumulation of waste will sneak up on us," said > > > co-author and NREL photovoltaics researcher Timothy Silverman. > > > > > > "Much like the exponential growth of PV installations, it will seem to > > move > > > slowly and then rapidly accelerate. By the time there's enough waste to > > > open a PV-dedicated facility, we need to have already studied the > proper > > > process," he said. > > > West Coast moves > > > > > > Globally, one dedicated facility exists for recycling crystalline > silicon > > > panels, the most common type, although the European Union has long > > mandated > > > that developers recycle cadmium telluride panels due to concerns about > > the > > > toxicity of cadmium. > > > > > > The U.S. has no dedicated solar panel recyclers, although the Solar > > Energy > > > Industries Association (SEIA) has roughly a dozen partner facilities > > > nationally that can handle parts of panels. > > > > > > The group says it's aiming to add two to four partners per year. > > > > > > "Our priorities have been to help recyclers' capabilities so that our > > > members and stakeholders have options
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
I am just shocked to learn that green energy has a toxic backside... so... now.. green and clean has to pay its due at disposal. Perhaps, the mantra of "Free Energy" will now have to be changed to "Deferred Cost Energy" ? I won't take this any further because it might become "political talk or something" unacceptable on this board. On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 5:54 PM OK Don via Mercedes wrote: > Once again, TANSTAAFL. > > On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 2:14 PM Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > > Searching for ways to recycle solar panels. > > RENEWABLE ENERGY > > 'They need to be ready.' Study warns of growing solar waste > > > > Published: Monday, July 20, 2020 > > [image: Solar Panels. Photo credit: Veolia Group/YouTube] > > > > Eight million tons of solar panels could reach the end of their useful > > lives by 2030, and federal researchers are highlighting the need to > recycle > > them. Solar panels outside a recycling facility in Europe are pictured. > > Veolia > > Group/YouTube > > > > Federal scientists are warning that a wave of waste from solar panels > could > > catch landfills off guard unless researchers figure out ways to recycle > it. > > > > In a study published last week in *Nature Energy*, analysts at the > National > > Renewable Energy Laboratory said roughly 8 million tons of solar > > photovoltaic panels are expected to hit landfills globally by the end of > > this decade, rising to 80 million by midcentury, when they could account > > for about 10% of all electronic waste. > > > > All those end-of-life panels could clog up landfills in the U.S. and > > elsewhere, leaving valuable metals behind and contributing to greenhouse > > gas emissions, NREL scientists said. While the International Energy > Agency > > has so far concluded that the most widespread solar panel poses little > risk > > to human health, a lack of standard testing protocol leaves uncertainties > > about whether harmful chemicals could leach out of decomposing equipment, > > according to researchers. > > > > But solar recycling could turn into a $15 billion global industry of its > > own by 2050, according to prior studies, and lead to the creation of 2 > > billion new panels. In the U.S., recycling could also provide a supply of > > minerals deemed "critical" for national security purposes, while reducing > > the solar industry's environmental footprint, the study said. > > > > "Solar PV has widespread support ... because it's a green, clean > > technology," said Garvin Heath, lead author of the study and an expert on > > life-cycle assessment for energy technologies at NREL. "Part of its > > implicit promise is based upon the industry addressing and ensuring that > > it's as clean as it can be, in all phases of use. > > > > "The end-of-life phase is one we haven't confronted yet. But we're going > to > > soon," he added. "This problem is going to come to us. The industry, > > policymakers, researchers, society as a whole — they need to be ready for > > that." > > > > The growth of solar photovoltaics, which produce about 3% of the world's > > power, didn't begin in earnest until the 2000s. Typical warranties of > > panels often last between 25 and 30 years. While hailstorms, floods and > > other natural disasters have sometimes damaged installations en masse, > the > > real wave of end-of-life panels hasn't arrived. > > > > Researchers need to focus their attention now on solutions for handling > > that wave "because the accumulation of waste will sneak up on us," said > > co-author and NREL photovoltaics researcher Timothy Silverman. > > > > "Much like the exponential growth of PV installations, it will seem to > move > > slowly and then rapidly accelerate. By the time there's enough waste to > > open a PV-dedicated facility, we need to have already studied the proper > > process," he said. > > West Coast moves > > > > Globally, one dedicated facility exists for recycling crystalline silicon > > panels, the most common type, although the European Union has long > mandated > > that developers recycle cadmium telluride panels due to concerns about > the > > toxicity of cadmium. > > > > The U.S. has no dedicated solar panel recyclers, although the Solar > Energy > > Industries Association (SEIA) has roughly a dozen partner facilities > > nationally that can handle parts of panels. > > > > The group says it's aiming to add two to four partners per year. > > > > "Our priorities have been to help recyclers' capabilities so that our > > members and stakeholders have options available to them across the > > country," said Evelyn Butler, SEIA's senior director of codes and > > standards, in a statement. "The geographic diversity of available > recyclers > > and development of an on-the-ground network to enable recycling is very > > important to reduce the cost, widen the availability and to encourage > this > > choice as an end-of-life management option." > > > > A few West Coast states have
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Once again, TANSTAAFL. On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 2:14 PM Andrew Strasfogel via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Searching for ways to recycle solar panels. > RENEWABLE ENERGY > 'They need to be ready.' Study warns of growing solar waste > > Published: Monday, July 20, 2020 > [image: Solar Panels. Photo credit: Veolia Group/YouTube] > > Eight million tons of solar panels could reach the end of their useful > lives by 2030, and federal researchers are highlighting the need to recycle > them. Solar panels outside a recycling facility in Europe are pictured. > Veolia > Group/YouTube > > Federal scientists are warning that a wave of waste from solar panels could > catch landfills off guard unless researchers figure out ways to recycle it. > > In a study published last week in *Nature Energy*, analysts at the National > Renewable Energy Laboratory said roughly 8 million tons of solar > photovoltaic panels are expected to hit landfills globally by the end of > this decade, rising to 80 million by midcentury, when they could account > for about 10% of all electronic waste. > > All those end-of-life panels could clog up landfills in the U.S. and > elsewhere, leaving valuable metals behind and contributing to greenhouse > gas emissions, NREL scientists said. While the International Energy Agency > has so far concluded that the most widespread solar panel poses little risk > to human health, a lack of standard testing protocol leaves uncertainties > about whether harmful chemicals could leach out of decomposing equipment, > according to researchers. > > But solar recycling could turn into a $15 billion global industry of its > own by 2050, according to prior studies, and lead to the creation of 2 > billion new panels. In the U.S., recycling could also provide a supply of > minerals deemed "critical" for national security purposes, while reducing > the solar industry's environmental footprint, the study said. > > "Solar PV has widespread support ... because it's a green, clean > technology," said Garvin Heath, lead author of the study and an expert on > life-cycle assessment for energy technologies at NREL. "Part of its > implicit promise is based upon the industry addressing and ensuring that > it's as clean as it can be, in all phases of use. > > "The end-of-life phase is one we haven't confronted yet. But we're going to > soon," he added. "This problem is going to come to us. The industry, > policymakers, researchers, society as a whole — they need to be ready for > that." > > The growth of solar photovoltaics, which produce about 3% of the world's > power, didn't begin in earnest until the 2000s. Typical warranties of > panels often last between 25 and 30 years. While hailstorms, floods and > other natural disasters have sometimes damaged installations en masse, the > real wave of end-of-life panels hasn't arrived. > > Researchers need to focus their attention now on solutions for handling > that wave "because the accumulation of waste will sneak up on us," said > co-author and NREL photovoltaics researcher Timothy Silverman. > > "Much like the exponential growth of PV installations, it will seem to move > slowly and then rapidly accelerate. By the time there's enough waste to > open a PV-dedicated facility, we need to have already studied the proper > process," he said. > West Coast moves > > Globally, one dedicated facility exists for recycling crystalline silicon > panels, the most common type, although the European Union has long mandated > that developers recycle cadmium telluride panels due to concerns about the > toxicity of cadmium. > > The U.S. has no dedicated solar panel recyclers, although the Solar Energy > Industries Association (SEIA) has roughly a dozen partner facilities > nationally that can handle parts of panels. > > The group says it's aiming to add two to four partners per year. > > "Our priorities have been to help recyclers' capabilities so that our > members and stakeholders have options available to them across the > country," said Evelyn Butler, SEIA's senior director of codes and > standards, in a statement. "The geographic diversity of available recyclers > and development of an on-the-ground network to enable recycling is very > important to reduce the cost, widen the availability and to encourage this > choice as an end-of-life management option." > > A few West Coast states have undertaken policies to encourage solar panel > recycling. Last week, California regulators moved to reclassify disposed > panels in order to streamline recycling, and in the state of Washington, a > law set to go into effect in coming years will require that panels be > recycled. > > Among the most high-value materials in a crystalline silicon panel are > metals. In particular, the silicon itself accounts for half the panel's > cost, half its embodied energy and half its climate change footprint, > according to the study. > > "Liberating" the silicon and other metals can be harder than one would >
Re: [MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Aren't they basically aluminum, iron, copper and sand? The glass and the wafers are what I'm calling sand. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] OT: Growing solar waste
Searching for ways to recycle solar panels. RENEWABLE ENERGY 'They need to be ready.' Study warns of growing solar waste Published: Monday, July 20, 2020 [image: Solar Panels. Photo credit: Veolia Group/YouTube] Eight million tons of solar panels could reach the end of their useful lives by 2030, and federal researchers are highlighting the need to recycle them. Solar panels outside a recycling facility in Europe are pictured. Veolia Group/YouTube Federal scientists are warning that a wave of waste from solar panels could catch landfills off guard unless researchers figure out ways to recycle it. In a study published last week in *Nature Energy*, analysts at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory said roughly 8 million tons of solar photovoltaic panels are expected to hit landfills globally by the end of this decade, rising to 80 million by midcentury, when they could account for about 10% of all electronic waste. All those end-of-life panels could clog up landfills in the U.S. and elsewhere, leaving valuable metals behind and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, NREL scientists said. While the International Energy Agency has so far concluded that the most widespread solar panel poses little risk to human health, a lack of standard testing protocol leaves uncertainties about whether harmful chemicals could leach out of decomposing equipment, according to researchers. But solar recycling could turn into a $15 billion global industry of its own by 2050, according to prior studies, and lead to the creation of 2 billion new panels. In the U.S., recycling could also provide a supply of minerals deemed "critical" for national security purposes, while reducing the solar industry's environmental footprint, the study said. "Solar PV has widespread support ... because it's a green, clean technology," said Garvin Heath, lead author of the study and an expert on life-cycle assessment for energy technologies at NREL. "Part of its implicit promise is based upon the industry addressing and ensuring that it's as clean as it can be, in all phases of use. "The end-of-life phase is one we haven't confronted yet. But we're going to soon," he added. "This problem is going to come to us. The industry, policymakers, researchers, society as a whole — they need to be ready for that." The growth of solar photovoltaics, which produce about 3% of the world's power, didn't begin in earnest until the 2000s. Typical warranties of panels often last between 25 and 30 years. While hailstorms, floods and other natural disasters have sometimes damaged installations en masse, the real wave of end-of-life panels hasn't arrived. Researchers need to focus their attention now on solutions for handling that wave "because the accumulation of waste will sneak up on us," said co-author and NREL photovoltaics researcher Timothy Silverman. "Much like the exponential growth of PV installations, it will seem to move slowly and then rapidly accelerate. By the time there's enough waste to open a PV-dedicated facility, we need to have already studied the proper process," he said. West Coast moves Globally, one dedicated facility exists for recycling crystalline silicon panels, the most common type, although the European Union has long mandated that developers recycle cadmium telluride panels due to concerns about the toxicity of cadmium. The U.S. has no dedicated solar panel recyclers, although the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has roughly a dozen partner facilities nationally that can handle parts of panels. The group says it's aiming to add two to four partners per year. "Our priorities have been to help recyclers' capabilities so that our members and stakeholders have options available to them across the country," said Evelyn Butler, SEIA's senior director of codes and standards, in a statement. "The geographic diversity of available recyclers and development of an on-the-ground network to enable recycling is very important to reduce the cost, widen the availability and to encourage this choice as an end-of-life management option." A few West Coast states have undertaken policies to encourage solar panel recycling. Last week, California regulators moved to reclassify disposed panels in order to streamline recycling, and in the state of Washington, a law set to go into effect in coming years will require that panels be recycled. Among the most high-value materials in a crystalline silicon panel are metals. In particular, the silicon itself accounts for half the panel's cost, half its embodied energy and half its climate change footprint, according to the study. "Liberating" the silicon and other metals can be harder than one would suspect, said Heath, and can require energy inputs that raise new environmental questions. Plus, the manufacturing and operation of modules often creates impurities in the silicon, which would need to be reprocessed before being repurposed into panels. And a dedicated recycling facility
