I find it pretty hard to believe that a lot of solar panels that get
replaced just because they're "at the end of their life cycle". I'd bet
that there will be a decent market for used panels that can still do ~50%
of their output. If nothing else, somebody should start collecting them
all and fill a nice patch of desert with them.
On Fri, Jul 15, 2022 at 1:12 PM Chuck McCown via AF <af@af.afmug.com> wrote:
> OK, hyperbole, the stream of waste has hardly started.
> Not filling up the landfills.
>
> The type of waste? Copper, Selenium?
> You can buy supplements of those at the drug store.
>
> Arsenic? Very little in a panel.
> And Arsenic has a hormetic effect. People are healthier if their drinking
> water contains a little vs none. Not sure this is a significant issue.
> Like to know more.
>
> And solar panels degrade about 0.5-1% a year. The article says many
> panels are coming to the end of their 25 year life. Hey, I will not
> uninstall mine until they are below 50%. Just cheap that way.
>
> I am surprised California is so flat. Flatter than Nebraska. This is due
> to the frequent “sky is falling” issues there.....
>
> Glad to see that Diablo is getting a new lease on life. Nuclear will
> solve everything.
>
>
>
> *From:* Bill Prince
> *Sent:* Friday, July 15, 2022 11:26 AM
> *To:* af@af.afmug.com
> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] OT solar panels
>
>
>
>
> Here's a PDF of the article in today's Merc.
>
>
>
> bp
> <part15sbs{at}gmail{dot}com>
>
> On 7/15/2022 9:53 AM, Chuck McCown via AF wrote:
>
> The LA times has an article about CA landfills filling up with solar
> panels. It is behind a paywall, so I guess I won’t read it. Sounds like
> hyperbole to me. First, the all the solar panels in the state, by volume
> probably don’t match a weeks’ worth of municipal solid waste by volume, so
> that is hardly filling up the landfills. Second, it hints they are toxic.
> Really? Glass and aluminum. Silicon dioxide is just purified glass. Yes,
> they do have dopants in them. And there is some solder but probably rohs
> solder.
>
> Is there any truth to this? Secondly, why? Are there really that many
> worn out solar panels? I have never had one wear out to the point that I
> disposed of it. And I have had solar panels of some sort for close to 50
> years.
>
>
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