Are Rare Earth Elements Used In Solar Panels

Rare earth metals hard to find materials with unfamiliar names such as lanthanum neodymium and europium are used in wind and solar energy projects but dwindling supplies could hinder a roll out of low carbon technologies and slow china s shift away from coal power.

Are rare earth elements used in solar panels.

By depleting earth of its resources solar energy is not sustainable as the components required are limited. Researchers are now working to find alternatives to these critical elements or better ways to recycle them. And rare earth. For example a single tesla vehicle requires about 15 pounds or a bowling ball s worth of lithium and thin cheap solar panels need tellurium one of the rarest elements on earth.

Rare earth elements are 17 elements found on earth. Mining for rare metals is considered to be one of china s most polluting industries presenting potential disasters relating to contamination that threaten to cause a wide scale catastrophe. Revision of solar panel production process. Environmental scientists and solar industry leaders are raising the red flag about used solar panels which contain toxic heavy metals and are considered hazardous waste.

More clean energy means more solar panels wind turbines electric vehicles and large scale batteries. A new report by the french environment and energy management agency ademe shows that rare earth minerals are not widely used in solar energy and battery storage technologies. Thin film solar panels use rare metals like indium and tellurium while a crucial process in the conversion of petroleum into gasoline uses lanthanum and cerium. Rare metals are especially vital for renewable energy technologies such as electric cars and solar panels.

Neodymium is a so called rare earth element a silvery metal with a very important role. These compounds which are highly toxic when mined and processed also take a heavy environmental toll on soil and water.