4 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Schu's avatar

There's a whole helluva lot more involved than just installing solar panels and walking away. The distribution network needs to be upsized to handle increased electrical demand. A lot of mined copper involved there. And by your own definition, solar and wind aren't renewable. Solar panel production degrades steadily over a 20 year lifespan (on average) before they must be removed and replaced. The panels are too expensive and complicated to recycle, so they end up in landfills. That's just distribution. I could write a book about why electrification is a terrible idea on the user side, especially for heating.

Source: I'm a mechanical professional engineer and a certified energy manager. I.e. I've done the math.

Expand full comment
Scott Mari's avatar

I respect you are an energy manager, but perhaps you are too close to this? Trillion dollar companies are making solar, batteries, and electric cars. Redwood Materials will be recycling the batteries. This is all happening now - they can't be cooking the books, they are shipping viable products. Please write your book. I would love to hear the other side.

As it is, you're conflating the system with its fuel. The fuel is 100% renewable: you may try to recycle coal and oil once it is burnt if you like. The grid always needs upgrades, but current grid handles power no matter the source. Power lines are aluminum, not copper, and we have tons of it. Also, did you just invoke - extra-mining - as an issue! My God, where does the oil and coal come from I wonder?

My solar panels are guaranteed for 80% output for 25 years. Most power plants are rated for 50 years of operation. Parts in a coal-fired plant will need to be recycled after 25 years (system). Your complaint that the panels aren't recyclable is unconvincing. I'll take 25 years of service (system) with free fuel over pumping, shipping, and wars fighting over a dwindling resource. It's no-contest.

Expand full comment
Jan's avatar

“ Currently, the process involved in solar panel recycling is not 100 percent efficient. Recovering the materials, combined with the energy needed to separate the materials and break them down into their constituent parts is very costly and energy-intensive. Not to mention recovering, separating, and recycling the silicone cells found in solar panels, which themselves require their own specialized recycling process.”

Expand full comment
Scott Mari's avatar

Correct! We haven't worked hard on recycling solar panels - yet. Redwood Materials has JB Straubel working to recycle batteries - I think we will get better as we switch to renewables.

Renewables are cheaper, cleaner, lead to energy independence, and less foreign resource wars - all part of a better future.

I invite you to recycle oil and gas - 0% recyclable.

Renewables for the win - again.

Expand full comment
ErrorError