/sci/ - Science & Math

>>10968175
Solar cells are made of silicon. That's the most common element. You also need some copper for wiring but that's common as well.
For panels you also need glass, an aluminium frame and a plastic layer to protect the backside. Solar is the cheapest energy source because all material used is very common.

>>10381149
not true, meanwhile everybody and his dog is putting solar panels on the roof and buying a hybrid car

>>10318478
why are you such a lying bastard?

solar panels are cheap mass products so nothing rare ore valuable is used
Solar panels are made of glass, an extremely thin layer of silicon, some copper for conduction and an aluminium frame that's it.
Silicon layers are being doped with a few boron and phosphorus atoms.

>>10215764
>>batteries and solar panels must be replaced every few decades
>Are the old ones simply trash or can the materials be recycled into new ones?

Solar panel manufacturers guarantee 90% capacity after 10 years and 80% capacity after 25 years. Meanwhile actual degradation is even lower. You could keep using panels for a century and might still get power.
Panels are mostly made of glass, silicon and metal. All of this can easily be recycled into new panels or whatever.