Solar panels – an eco-disaster waiting to happen?
bbc.co.uk
bbc.co.uk
The throw away culture might have been addressed by the time a lot of old panels start coming off rooves, and simple repurposed at a location that has room and a need for more power even if it isn't as efficient.
As for "glass" ... if it is low quality, I'm sure there will be a need for "low quality" clear glass ... unlike plastic, it can be melted and formed into glass sheets without too much issue.
I would love to pick up a truck load of solar panels that are being thrown away ... but around my way the asking price is still a little much considering some would need their voltage regulation / controller replaced ... and there would be less silver in that load than a single silver spoon.
> It is hoped a major step will be taken at the end of June, when the world's first factory dedicated to fully recycling solar panels officially opens in France.
> ROSI, the specialist solar recycling company which owns the facility, in the Alpine city of Grenoble, hopes eventually to be able to extract and re-use 99% of a unit's components.
Besides, the act of recycling in itself comes with its own problems: energy use (it would be interesting to have an estimate of EROEI of recyled solar panels), fresh water usage, pollution and effluents, and finally the recycling rate (how much of the input is actually recycled).
It is relevant IMO to note that after decades of plastic recycling operations, the rate of plastic waste being actually recycled is at about 9%. And recycled plastic in itself has degraded performance characteristics.
All the stuff being discussed is pure upside, and easily achievable.