Are Rare Earth Elements Used In Solar Panels

Revision of solar panel production process.

Are rare earth elements used in solar panels.

Researchers are now working to find alternatives to these critical elements or better ways to recycle them. These compounds which are highly toxic when mined and processed also take a heavy environmental toll on soil and water. Rare earth elements are 17 elements found on earth. Invex news increased demand for solar panels solar panels archives steel aluminum critical materials strategy home gvs rare earths are rare earths in solar panels pv internationalhome gvs rare earthswe don t mine enough rare earth metals to replace fossil fuelssolar panels indexmundirare earth elements and role in renewable energy kernthe dark side of renewable.

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. 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. More clean energy means more solar panels wind turbines electric vehicles and large scale batteries. 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.

Neodymium is a so called rare earth element a silvery metal with a very important role. Terbium and europium are used in thin film solar panels while dysprosium is used to manufacture batteries in most hybrid gas electric. 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. Thin film solar panels use rare metals like indium and tellurium while a crucial process in the conversion of petroleum into gasoline uses lanthanum and cerium.

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. 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.