Impending eco disaster by solar panels

[Captain Caveman]

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.
Experts say billions of panels will eventually all need to be disposed of and replaced.
"The world has installed more than one terawatt of solar capacity. Ordinary solar panels have a capacity of about 400W, so if you count both rooftops and solar farms, there could be as many as 2.5 billion solar panels.," says Dr Rong Deng, an expert in solar panel recycling at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
According to the British government, there are tens of millions of solar panels in the UK. But the specialist infrastructure to scrap and recycle them is lacking.
Energy experts are calling for urgent government action to prevent a looming global environmental disaster.

Challenge to stop solar panels becoming a 'waste mountain' - BBC News

A French factory is pioneering recycling of solar units as experts warn of a waste mountain by 2050.

www.bbc.com

We all knew this is/was going to happen, well, everyone except the pro climate brigade. And then EV batteries.

When we reach that point, "We told you so".

 

[Oddball]

Envirowhacks don't do externalities.

 

[MarathonMike]

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.
Experts say billions of panels will eventually all need to be disposed of and replaced.
"The world has installed more than one terawatt of solar capacity. Ordinary solar panels have a capacity of about 400W, so if you count both rooftops and solar farms, there could be as many as 2.5 billion solar panels.," says Dr Rong Deng, an expert in solar panel recycling at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
According to the British government, there are tens of millions of solar panels in the UK. But the specialist infrastructure to scrap and recycle them is lacking.
Energy experts are calling for urgent government action to prevent a looming global environmental disaster.

Challenge to stop solar panels becoming a 'waste mountain' - BBC News

A French factory is pioneering recycling of solar units as experts warn of a waste mountain by 2050.

www.bbc.com

We all knew this is/was going to happen, well, everyone except the pro climate brigade. And then EV batteries.

When we reach that point, "We told you so".

The Greeners probably think you just clean 'em real good and they last forever.

 

[multivita-man]

Solar panels require lots of space in order to be effective. The idea currently is to use them in 'dead' areas like deserts, vacant fields, and even larger bodies of water. But these are not dead zones at all; deserts have their own ecosystems that are sensitive to disruption, and marine life needs sunlight, which these panels will block. They will kill ponds and lakes.

We also have another major problem: a looming shortage of copper.

Copper Shortage Threatens Green Transition

Challenges in opening new mines are expected to leave production lagging behind rising demand.

www.wsj.com

 

[johngaltshrugged]

Green energy is total BS & the elites pushing & profiting from it know it simply isn't feasible the way they sell it to the hooples.

Net-zero is a more accurate term because it's all about keeping energy from the peasants as a weapon/control disguised as "saving the planet".

 

[multivita-man]

Green energy is total BS & the elites pushing & profiting from it know it simply isn't feasible the way they sell it to the hooples.

Net-zero is a more accurate term because it's all about keeping energy from the peasants as a weapon/control disguised as "saving the planet".

Sustainability or sustainable growth is basically bullshit.

Ecological destruction and mass extinction...is not at all bullshit. It is reality. It is happening now. It is a civilization-ending event, and it may be an event that ends all multicellular life on the planet toward the end of this century.

 

[ReinyDays]

Solar panels require lots of space in order to be effective. The idea currently is to use them in 'dead' areas like deserts, vacant fields, and even larger bodies of water. But these are not dead zones at all; deserts have their own ecosystems that are sensitive to disruption, and marine life needs sunlight, which these panels will block. They will kill ponds and lakes.

We also have another major problem: a looming shortage of copper.

Copper Shortage Threatens Green Transition

Challenges in opening new mines are expected to leave production lagging behind rising demand.

www.wsj.com

Rooftops ... no ecosystem there ... and less sunshine directly on the roof increases the lifespan of the roof ... make the electricity where it's being used ...

Copper shortages will hurt all over ... but it is eminently recyclable ... from old solar panels ... it's not like these rare metals evaporate or anything ...

 

[Dekster]

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.
Experts say billions of panels will eventually all need to be disposed of and replaced.
"The world has installed more than one terawatt of solar capacity. Ordinary solar panels have a capacity of about 400W, so if you count both rooftops and solar farms, there could be as many as 2.5 billion solar panels.," says Dr Rong Deng, an expert in solar panel recycling at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
According to the British government, there are tens of millions of solar panels in the UK. But the specialist infrastructure to scrap and recycle them is lacking.
Energy experts are calling for urgent government action to prevent a looming global environmental disaster.

Challenge to stop solar panels becoming a 'waste mountain' - BBC News

A French factory is pioneering recycling of solar units as experts warn of a waste mountain by 2050.

www.bbc.com

We all knew this is/was going to happen, well, everyone except the pro climate brigade. And then EV batteries.

When we reach that point, "We told you so".

We'll figure that part out. My problem is that solar is just that efficient for the cost in our area because we have like clouds and rain somewhat regularly.

 

[ReinyDays]

We'll figure that part out. My problem is that solar is just that efficient for the cost in our area because we have like clouds and rain somewhat regularly.

You'll be seeing more clouds and rain with global warming ... my problem with solar is hydro will always be cheaper and carbon-neutraler ... and we have too much hydro as it is ...

 

[surada]

Green energy is total BS & the elites pushing & profiting from it know it simply isn't feasible the way they sell it to the hooples.

Net-zero is a more accurate term because it's all about keeping energy from the peasants as a weapon/control disguised as "saving the planet".

Solar panels are very effective for heating water and are fairly standard in Israel and Hawaii. I put them on my roof in 1979. Saved an amazing amount of money and they still work.

 

[ReinyDays]

Solar panels are very effective for heating water and are fairly standard in Israel and Hawaii. I put them on my roof in 1979. Saved an amazing amount of money and they still work.

Don't you wish you paid today's prices instead of 1979 prices? ... well, the good news is the panels are just part of the cost of new installations ... with an existing system you should only have to replace the panels, and not the circuitry ... and panels are dirt cheap these days ...

It's too cloudy here for solar, but wind power is as cheap as hydro ... and hydro is cheapest in the nation ... roll on, Columbia, roll on ...

 

[Dekster]

You'll be seeing more clouds and rain with global warming ... my problem with solar is hydro will always be cheaper and carbon-neutraler ... and we have too much hydro as it is ...

I am a fan of hydro but that is not suited for everywhere. My city gets part of its power from a couple small hydro providers (basically old factory dams) and a larger one. A couple gas fired producers are where most of it comes from. We also have some solar contracts and have started down the battery farm road to take the sharp edge off peak demand price spikes.

 

[surada]

Don't you wish you paid today's prices instead of 1979 prices? ... well, the good news is the panels are just part of the cost of new installations ... with an existing system you should only have to replace the panels, and not the circuitry ... and panels are dirt cheap these days ...

It's too cloudy here for solar, but wind power is as cheap as hydro ... and hydro is cheapest in the nation ... roll on, Columbia, roll on ...

I bought mine from Australia for $2000... passive for hot water.

 

[elektra]

Solar panels are very effective for heating water and are fairly standard in Israel and Hawaii. I put them on my roof in 1979. Saved an amazing amount of money and they still work.

We had a solar water heater in southern california, it kept the wster luke warm during the winter. We could not even increase the temperature of the water with an electric water heater. The system did not allow it.

they dont work

 

[surada]

We had a solar water heater in southern california, it kept the wster luke warm during the winter. We could not even increase the temperature of the water with an electric water heater. The system did not allow it.

they dont work

In coastal South Carolina they work fine and the water was routed through a standard hot water heater.

 

[elektra]

In coastal South Carolina they work fine and the water was routed through a standard hot water heater.

So was mine, did nit work on cloudy days or in the winter

 

[surada]

So was mine, did nit work on cloudy days or in the winter

Mine has a 93 gallon tank. Even in winter we have lots of 80-90 degree water that doesn't need much heating.

 

[ReinyDays]

So was mine, did nit work on cloudy days or in the winter

Mine has a 93 gallon tank. Even in winter we have lots of 80-90 degree water that doesn't need much heating.

Rule #1 ... use the energy source cheapest for you ... do the math, if rooftop solar panels don't pay ... then don't get them ... West Texas is full of wind farms because it's always windy there ... powering the oil refineries along the Gulf Coast ...

 

[elektra]

Rule #1 ... use the energy source cheapest for you ... do the math, if rooftop solar panels don't pay ... then don't get them ... West Texas is full of wind farms because it's always windy there ... powering the oil refineries along the Gulf Coast ...

The wind turbines in west texas do not power the refineries in east texas. They are too weak.

 

[ReinyDays]

The wind turbines in west texas do not power the refineries in east texas. They are too weak.

Power is power ... the watt of electricity put on the grid is used on the grid ... refineries run on the grid ... my understanding is that up to 20% of Texas electricity comes from wind, on windy days ... that's 20% less power from fossil fuels plants, on windy days ... all the power is mixed together on the grid ... so refineries use 20% of their power from wind farms, on windy days ...

If the wind isn't blowing, Texas has to fire up fossil fuel generators, which is more expensive, the refineries don't shut down ... it's call using what's cheapest ...