Rare Earth Metals In Solar Panels

Thin film pv technologies for example contain potentially critical metals such as tellurium.

Rare earth metals in solar panels.

Rare earths hasting technology metals signs third offtake agreement. However recent research coming out of the netherlands has spotted a red flag to relying on solar panels as a panacea for global emissions problems. We ve found a new source for rare earth elements need green. Experts have found that the rare metals required to build solar panels such as indium and tellurium are not in sufficient supply to keep up with demand.

High performance batteries need lithium which is only easily extracted from briny pools in the andes. Thin cheap solar panels need tellurium which makes up a scant 0 0000001 percent of the earth s crust making it three times rarer than gold. However a lack of rare earths does not mean that the components of solar modules are harmless. If solar panels are so clean why do they produce much toxic waste.

Using rare metals in solar panels.