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Environment & Energy

mackdaddy

(1,522 posts)

6. Cadmium telluride photovoltaics are less than 5% of Panels made.

Reply to NNadir (Original post)

Tue May 10, 2016, 08:38 PM

May 2016

95% of all PV panels are made with silicon wafers, pretty much like all integrated circuit substrates.

All the silicon wafer production whether for IC's or Silicon PV, uses some pretty serious chemicals.

The Cadmium Telluride are a form of what is called "thin film" panels. Many of the thin film panel companies went out of business when the silicon panels dropped by nearly 90% in cost. There were some of these companies in the Toledo area a few years ago. I was at a conference and they were claiming that the amount of CD and TE they were using was minuscule and it was being handled properly and could be recycled when the panels were ultimately melted down. I am not sure if they are still in business.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_telluride_photovoltaics

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Highlight:

Oh. Oh. Finally a discussion of the toxicology of solar cells is appearing in the scientific... [View all] NNadir May 2016 OP

Reasonable to point out pollution caused by PV manufacture. Wilms May 2016 #1

Uranium mining, however, is not necessary, for several centuries. NNadir May 2016 #4

that is funny, I had attended the view a while ago hollysmom May 2016 #2

Are you still pushing nuclear energy? NV Whino May 2016 #3

I will always push nuclear energy. It's vastly superior to all other options. NNadir May 2016 #5

Until you can show me NV Whino May 2016 #7

You would need to understand chemistry and physics to get it. NNadir May 2016 #8

I did not mention coal. Continued use of coal is not an option. NV Whino May 2016 #10

What do you mean "it's not an option?" It's a REALITY. NNadir May 2016 #11

Cadmium telluride photovoltaics are less than 5% of Panels made. mackdaddy May 2016 #6

The topic of silicon chemistry is another matter, equally as disturbing, I assure you... NNadir May 2016 #9

While toxicity is an issue, for me the much greater issue is the whole-system CO2 intensity of RE. GliderGuider May 2016 #12