CORRECTION to Sustainable Idaho Episode, August 10, 2021,
This episode contained misinformation about the toxicity of solar panel waste and has been removed. Sustainable Idaho regrets creating unfounded concern about solar panels. The following research applies:
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) published a report in the journal Nature Physicson October 5, 2023, that debunks the toxicity of solar panel waste.
“The researchers found that the two most common solar panel types contain ‘almost none’ of those toxins [arsenic, gallium, germanium, and hexavalent chromium]. The most popular modules, crystalline silicon, contain less than 0.1% lead, usually from lead solder, which the authors suggest is being phased out by manufacturers. Meanwhile, the other most common type of module, cadmium telluride, contains less than 0.1% cadmium and even that the compound of cadmium is extremely stable and can be recaptured in the recycling processes.” (Clean Technica, October 10, 2023)
NREL and CSM scientists go on to say, “Unsubstantiated claims that fuel growing public concern over the toxicity of photovoltaic modules and their waste are slowing their deployment. Clarifying these issues will help to facilitate the decarbonization that our world depends on.”
Linda Engle - October 16, 2023
ORIGINAL POST: (2021)
Last week, we introduced the topic of solar energy and the opportunities that Idaho State University’s ESTEC program offers to those interested in working with renewables. This week, we’ll continue to talk about solar energy, this time with Jared Hansen and Jordan Rodriguez from Idaho Power in addition to Brad Barrot, one of the partners at Big Dog Solar. We focused on three aspects of solar energy: current solar capacity in Idaho, motivation for solar installation, and disposal issues.
First, we asked Hansen how much of current energy demands are met by solar energy. While rooftop solar only accounts for a small fraction of all energy produced in Idaho, Idaho Power has contracts with commercial solar energy projects that have a combined capacity of 319 Megawatts. This is not including the 120 MW Jackpot solar project. For context, one megawatt of energy powers just under 150 homes in the state of Idaho; the total capacity of all these projects will provide the equivalent of Pocatello’s power needs.
Beyond the private sector, solar is becoming a popular energy source for the general public. But is that mainly because of financial motives? Rodriguez notes that, in general, people in Idaho aren’t getting solar panels to save money since energy here is already fairly cheap. Instead, motivation likely stems from environmental concern or the desire for energy independence.
That said, solar can still save you money in Idaho if you’re willing to play the long game according to Idaho Power, but it depends on where you live and your energy consumption. According to Solar Reviews’ calculations, the average payback period in the Pocatello area is only about 6-8 years. Another motivating factor Barrott brought up is the sense of security that comes from owning solar in combination with batteries. Barrott highlights that while complete energy independence has some financial hurdles, current investment in energy storage and battery research will make this more affordable in the near future. It appears that storage capacity is not far behind the solar energy boom. Our ever expanding solar capacity brings Idaho much closer to addressing climate change and increasing sustainability.
So now we’ve overviewed solar capacity in Idaho and what motivates folks to invest in solar. However, there remains the question of disposal. What happens to solar panels once they reach end of life? And do different types of panels have to be disposed of differently? It turns out, thin film panels use more harmful chemicals than crystalline structure panels, but crystalline structure still require some toxic heavy metals in their production. When placed in a landfill both types pose a risk of leaching unwanted chemicals into the environment. The first alternative that comes to mind is recycling, so we asked Barrot about our capacity to recycle panels right now.
Like Barrot explained, most solar panels are still in operation so there haven’t been too many chances to implement a large-scale recycling system. Overall, while solar panels will help decrease greenhouse gas emissions, the chemical and heavy metal byproducts and challenges with recycling leave concerns about disposal which cannot yet be addressed through recycling. But the industry is determined to remedy these issues through research and development as it grows in the transition away from fossil fuels.
We have learned in our exploration of both nuclear and solar that no energy sources come without their benefits and drawbacks. A carbon free world must include not only ambition but also consideration of new hurdles during the green transition. Check back next week as we begin exploring Idaho’s drought.
Sources:
Idaho Power Solar Capacity:
https://www.idahopower.com/energy-environment/energy/energy-sources/solar/
How Many Homes a MW Can Power:
https://www.seia.org/initiatives/whats-megawatt
Solar Panel Types Comparison:
https://sciencing.com/effects-chlorofluorocarbons-humans-7053.html
