New technologies bring hope for a better and safer future, but at the same time, they also bring anxiety – what negative consequences might they leave behind? Electric vehicles, for example, are criticized because of the energy storage batteries and the lithium required for their production. When it comes to solar panels, which offer us a clean energy source, there is debate about what happens when they become waste. How much will they pollute the environment? Can they be recycled?
Reflecting on this topic, I found an article with conclusions I would like to share.
Numerous and powerful industries are involved in the energy transition. Humanity is filled with both good and evil. Evil includes the desire for power, greed, and recklessness. Although we should be more united than ever in transitioning to a green and sustainable way of life, it cannot be overlooked that some don’t find this to be in their interest. In terms of energy transition and ecology in general, it is essential to highlight the concept of greenwashing, which powerful industries use daily. Therefore, those who harbor distrust towards green technologies cannot be blamed.
Greenwashing is a broad term. In the context of green technologies, this could be explained by companies presenting their products as environmentally sustainable, which they indeed are to some extent. However, they hide that these technologies are not 100 per cent ecological. This is precisely the example I mentioned at the beginning. While electric vehicles are presented as non-polluting because they do not use fossil fuels, producing their batteries requires lithium mining, which is not widely discussed.
Returning to the initial topic, solar panels could similarly be questioned. Although they help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants, how much do we know about their different characteristics? What is required for their production, how much emission is released during the process, and what happens when their lifespan ends? Can they be recycled, or do they cause more environmental pollution after their lifespan than the benefits they provided during their operation?
The article I mentioned points out several arguments in favor of solar panels. Firstly, this industry is still relatively young and has room to develop to become more sustainable, and the recycling sector is improving on a daily basis. Besides room for improvement, there is also time for improvement because the lifespan of this technology is up to 30 years. Considering this, solar panels are long-lasting. They are not like phones, which are sold in large quantities and are often replaced every two years.
The second point discussed in the article is the material from which solar panels are made. It is stated that over 70 per cent of the material is glass, which has a well-developed recycling capability – in other words, it is recyclable. Although it has its specificities, like any object and technology where certain materials are adapted and improved, the current development of glass recycling infrastructure optimistically suggests that the process for recycling this glass will also develop. The other materials are metals, such as aluminum and copper wires, which also have good recycling potential and can be reused in this industry. Even if some older models of solar panels contain hazardous materials, such as lead, they appear in small quantities. Additionally, these hazardous materials are not released during the operation of the panels. If solar panels are correctly managed after their lifespan, they will not end up in the environment.
There are also companies dedicated explicitly to recycling solar panels, which means that work on this matter is already well underway.
The final argument presented compares fossil fuels and solar energy in the context of which option has a greater negative impact. Even if solar panels as waste create some negative environmental impact, they are still a cleaner solution than fossil fuels. From coal, oil, and natural gas mining to pipeline and tanker transport, spills can occur due to the pollution generated during use. There is also coal ash, which could be considered waste after the coal’s life cycle and is very harmful.
Ultimately, fossil fuels are a limited resource. Therefore, finding alternative solutions and giving them a chance to develop as effectively as possible is necessary.
If we go back to the initial issue of lithium mining to produce batteries for renewable energy storage, it should be noted that this matter is already being addressed. We are finding new materials that could replace the use of lithium and be more sustainable.
