Solar panels create 300 times more toxic waste than nuclear plants

Islamabad: Expert says solar panels generate clean energy but produce more toxic waste than the nuclear waste. It create 300 times more toxic waste per unit of energy than nuclear power plants. Dr. Syed Javaid Khurshid, distinguished visiting fellow, Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) while talking to ‘The News’ said that the world in the pursuit of cleaner power has adopted solar energy, as one of the source and its share has increased six fold in the past five years.

He said solar power replacing fossil fuel reduces environmental impact of greenhouse gases released by combustion of fossil fuels. However, very dangerous environmental impacts are associated with manufacturing of solar panels (SP), as well as by their disposal, causing an alarming environmental problem. Dr Javaid told that there are two types of SP wastes produced, first from fabricating and second disposing it off after completion its useful life.

Fabricating the silicone panels requires hazardous chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, phosphine gas and electricity which emits greenhouse gases. These solar panels also create waste on disposal after completing the life span. This undermines solar ability to fight climate change and reduce environmental toxins. He said the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), a San Francisco-based non-profit company is collecting the environmental impact of this high-tech industry since 1982. The coalition hopes to increase transparency in this growing industry, that tends to be more focused on survival and growth rather on tackling the dirtier side of an otherwise clean energy source. The SVTC relies on companies' self-reported data of emissions, chemical toxicity, water use, and recycling.

He told that a new study by Environmental Progress (EP) warns that toxic waste from used solar panels poses a global environmental threat. The Berkeley-based group found that solar panels create 300 times more toxic waste per unit of energy than nuclear power plants. “Discarded solar panels, which contain dangerous elements such as lead, chromium, and cadmium, are piling up around the world, and there’s been little done to mitigate their potential danger to environment,” he said.

He said in 2013 investigation by the AP found that from 2007 to 2011, the manufacture of solar panels in only California produced 46.5 million pounds of sludge and contaminated water. Data also suggest that building solar panels significantly increased emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) which is about 17,000 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year time period. It is also mentioned that NF3 emission has increased 100% over the last 25 years whereas CO2emission only rose to 5% during this time. The group warned policymakers to treat with caution any visions of a rapid, reliable, and low-cost transition to entire energy systems that relies almost exclusively on wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

Dr. Syed Javaid Khurshid has said that we should look at how renewable technologies such as solar panels impact the environment once they’ve outlived their usefulness. There is nothing environmentally friendly about creating mountains of hazardous waste in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions.