Original comment paper: Unfounded concerns about photovoltaic module toxicity and waste are slowing decarbonization
I read the paper. Behind paywall unfortunately, but the Cleantechnica article quote the paper well enough.
TLDR:
- Material waste from solar very small compared with other activities.
- Most common PVs contain almost none harmful materials. Trace amounts of lead in crystalline silicon modules and the cadmium in CdTe modules are the only potential harm IEA found. But Pb is being phased out, and CdTe compound is quite stable in CdTe modules. Both cadmium and tellurium are recycled into new modules.
- Module lifetime and reusability is increasing.
Treating decommissioned PV modules as a commodity and opportunity for material recovery, and not as hazardous waste would be environmentally and economically beneficial.