Are Rare Earth Elements Used In Solar Panels

Solar panels have a very limited impact on the environment.

Are rare earth elements used in solar panels.

For reference the term rare earth elements designates 17 mineral materials with exceptional properties that have become strategic materials ever since the digital boom. Rare earth metals hard to find materials with unfamiliar names such as lanthanum neodymium and europium are used in wind and solar energy projects but dwindling supplies could hinder a roll out of low carbon technologies and slow china s shift away from coal power. And rare earth. A new report by the french environment and energy management agency ademe shows that rare earth minerals are not widely used in solar energy and battery storage technologies.

Terbium and europium are used in thin film solar panels while dysprosium is used to manufacture batteries in most hybrid gas electric. For example a single tesla vehicle requires about 15 pounds or a bowling ball s worth of lithium and thin cheap solar panels need tellurium one of the rarest elements on earth. A shortage of rare earth metals used in everything from electric car batteries to solar panels to wind turbines is hampering the growth of renewable energy technologies. Environmental scientists and solar industry leaders are raising the red flag about used solar panels which contain toxic heavy metals and are considered hazardous waste.

Contrary to popular belief no rare earth elements are used in manufacturing solar panels. Currently marketed photovoltaic solar technologies do not use rare earths. These compounds which are highly toxic when mined and processed also take a heavy environmental toll on soil and water. By depleting earth of its resources solar energy is not sustainable as the components required are limited.

Rare earth elements are 17 elements found on earth. Revision of solar panel production process. Mining for rare metals is considered to be one of china s most polluting industries presenting potential disasters relating to contamination that threaten to cause a wide scale catastrophe. Researchers are now working to find alternatives to these critical elements or better ways to recycle them.