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How to account for the pollution incurred in the manufacturing of solar cells?

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Question added by Jacob Mathew K , electrical engineer , Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority
Date Posted: 2016/09/17
Windel Pastor
by Windel Pastor , Technical Trainer , Saudi Petroleum Services Polytechnic

Having no first hand knowledge as to the pollution related to the production of solar panels or solar cells, I would only say according to the knowledge from the sources that I have read, from the start of its production particularly from the sourcing raw materials such as silicon, as well know mining have some incorporated occupational health issues such as silicosis.  Then in the production of the solar panel itself another pollution involved particularly to the environment of the industry or plant where it is situated is the destruction related to toxic wastes control and disposal that would be considered as to compliance of regulatory provisions imposed on the country where the plant is located.  As to the accounting of the pollution involved in solar panels or solar cells, data would come from the amount of wastes produced in every panel or cell produced.  

Esad Smajlovic
by Esad Smajlovic , Senior energy efficiency and HVAC engineer/adviser , GIZ

The truth is that when the panels it requires caustic chemicals like sodium hydroxide and hydrofluoric acid, and the process uses water as well as electricity, i.e. the production emits greenhouse gases. 

However, you can easily calculate how much more or RE would be produced by the same solar panels and therefore less gases emitted over the span of the lifetime of the panels

 

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