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1. Ricardo (rgbes@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 04-Jun-2023 11:24:24 UTC Ricardo

   "While they are being promoted around the world as a crucial weapon in reducing carbon emissions, solar panels only have a lifespan of up to 25 years."
   
   Solar panels - an eco-disaster waiting to happen? - BBC News
   
   https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65602519
   
   #Solar #ClimateChange #Recycling

   • Ricardo (rgbes@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 04-Jun-2023 12:15:48 UTC Ricardo

     in reply to

     • SuperMoosie

     @SuperMoosie good to know! Maybe the 25 year figure is a lower bound? Anyway, science and engineering will solve this too👍

   • SuperMoosie (supermoosie@mastodon.au)'s status on Sunday, 04-Jun-2023 12:15:49 UTC SuperMoosie

     in reply to

     @RGBes

     A 25 year lifetime is not true.

     There are 30 old panels that are still generating in spec.

     Since then there has been massive research and development, manufacturing improvements, quality improvements and standards development, accelerated aging test to make sure that they will last at least 25 years. There is no indication that panels won't last many decades after that.

     Yes there needs to be some action on recycling, as other countries have done.

   • Myzsterious Mizster Jones (tmmj@mastodonapp.uk)'s status on Monday, 05-Jun-2023 09:10:59 UTC Myzsterious Mizster Jones

     in reply to

     @RGBes 25 years is also roughly the payback time for solar panels under the UK SEG.

     "[T]he [recycling] technology is expensive. In Europe, importers or producers of solar panels are responsible for disposing of them when they become expendable. And many favour crushing or shredding the waste - which is far cheaper."

     In other words, once again, the problem is the profit motive.

   • Ricardo (rgbes@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 05-Jun-2023 09:10:59 UTC Ricardo

     in reply to

     • Myzsterious Mizster Jones

     @tmmj Profit: the old, always present, origin of problems