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Recycling Solar Panels Next Big Moneymaker?

Earthtechling.com -- Recycling Solar Panels A Big Money Maker?
by Lauren Craig, January 19th, 2012

25 is magic number in the solar industry. Why? Because it is the number of years that most crystalline silicon solar panel manufacturers warranty the power output of their panels. But what happens next? Although the panels can still technically generate power beyond this point, their power output begins to decrease significantly.

As the industry continues to grow over the coming decades, and today’s solar modules approach the end of their useful lives, we will find ourselves with a serious solar trash problem.

A new report from GlobalData delves into a hidden side of the solar industry that will emerge as a result of this problem over the next 15 years–solar module recycling. According to the firm’s

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Submitted Feb 02, 2012 By: Joeski1
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joekayak
All-Star Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 11:58:34 PM
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S.ign up and be the first on your block to recycle solar panels
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drpepperTX
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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 5:01:18 PM
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How exciting! Oh well, maybe not.
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Eliano
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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 4:03:17 PM
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sure, it is...
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pscamp
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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 7:39:45 AM
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K

[Edited by: pscamp at 2/3/2012 7:40:59 AM EST]
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Mark8601
Veteran Author Bakersfield

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 7:00:55 AM
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Well heck BP got 40 years out of their panels! Maybe they quit 20 years ago and they still collected Govt. money and didn't tell anybody.
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99dakota
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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 5:51:07 AM
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Solyndra was throwing their stimulus paid for product in the trash!
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Yooperheart
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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 4:43:41 AM
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That's a short life span.
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leraar2
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 1:43:22 AM
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we recycle cars too.
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Luckylindy
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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 1:43:02 AM
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Do panels even pay for themselves in 25 years?
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asog75
All-Star Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 1:34:08 AM
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good greif!!!!
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anascom
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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 1:32:03 AM
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@eric_tdi "We will just sending them back to China.. They will make money on both ends of the deal.. We lose !!!!!!!!!!! "

that's because they have cheap labour in China and indea! and that's because of the greed of our manufacturing and retail industries! Sad, i know!
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eric_tdi
Sophomore Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 1:04:01 AM
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We will just sending them back to China.. They will make money on both ends of the deal.. We lose !!!!!!!!!!!
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wrunner
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 12:20:53 AM
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Maybe.

Maybe not.

May not be.

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humblepie
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more pipedreams
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Nicoalbum
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All kinds of business create jobs, so why not?
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Vette1967
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 11:53:48 PM
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It's the only smart thing to do when they are no longer useful.
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nurdco
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 11:41:16 PM
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Warranty???
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Shakleelady31
Sophomore Author Fort Wayne

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 11:10:23 PM
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Very interesting. Recycling solar panels was not something I ever thought about doing.
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livable1
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 11:01:50 PM
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Hummmmmm
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davenles
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 10:40:13 PM
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Recycling will cost us how much more?
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kx250
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 10:30:03 PM
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This is the best thing yet.

Don't worry about how efficient the technology is, or how much it costs compared to other more efficient sources, just be concerned about how recyclable it is after its miserable life is over. Brilliant....
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Edpap
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 10:11:45 PM
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I didn't know we had a solar industry. I just know the Chinese are making all the solar panels and the US solar panel companies that got Obama bonus bucks went out of business....the Chinese will take care of the trash for us too.
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babyjudy
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 10:02:51 PM
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I feel quite sure the solar trash will be recycled.
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TruthMatters
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:31:43 PM
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I consider this a "good" problem (if there's such a thing)!
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GT3186
Champion Author Salem

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 8:41:42 PM
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Hey, N1SJK, ever heard of logarithmic curves. The efficiency drop-off of solar panels (just like batteries and other electrical component life spans) is not linear. The productive, cost-effective, life of these technologies drops off with increasing rapidity after a certain point in time.

You may not be "gullible" enough to believe it, but that doesn't change the "crap", er, engineering specs.

Personally, I'd be surprised if they last that long. Ultraviolet radiation isn't friendly to any surface.



[Edited by: GT3186 at 2/2/2012 8:46:56 PM EST]
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BuckyTJones
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 7:51:59 PM
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Just like our beloved cell phone companies. When you purchase a new phone, they ask you for your old one for free, so they can turn around and clean it up and resell it
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Gas4Gore
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 7:31:18 PM
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Well all those solar panel companies have to recoup somewhere to cover their bankruptcy.
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MidNJ
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 7:22:18 PM
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What happens to a car when it is no longer servicable? - It goes to the junkyard and gets recycled.

The same will be true with solar panels if, when, they need to be replaced.
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N1SJK
Sophomore Author New Hampshire

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 7:17:02 PM
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Poppy cock! Don't believe it! If they warrant the panels to still put out 95% of their rated output 25 years down the road I seriously doubt that they'll suddenly drop off from there on out! I'm not gullible enough to buy that horse crap.
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furbud1957
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 7:00:48 PM
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ok
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teafortwo
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 6:53:42 PM
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BIG OIL & GAS love us

Interesting article Joeski1. Also more good articles & ideas on the site.

Thanks for sharing ;0}

And always remember, BIG OIL & GAS love us
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rbrk02
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 6:24:16 PM
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A natural development, presuming the industry grows to sufficient volume.
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kag2010
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 6:23:29 PM
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the junk.
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qwerty17
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 6:20:47 PM
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the junk guy will pick up anything.
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buckets42
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 6:18:54 PM
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Maybe they can be converted to oil.
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StArrow68
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 6:15:44 PM
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Interesting, have to get a system when I figure out that I have 25 years left, good forecasting is always difficult.
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cbuck80
All-Star Author Tulsa

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 6:02:11 PM
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someone will come up with something I'm sure.
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ziyulu
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 5:59:47 PM
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What? I don't even have them installed at my home, and now they are talking about recycling? Am I just that behind in the times?
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Joeski1
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 5:57:08 PM
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I post this to document how 'renewable' solar energy really is....

these recycled panels may power the grid for another 100 years or more by being re-used...

the same is/will happen with batteries from hybrids... and even parts from turbines....

not available with oil, coal, nuke or unnnatural gas
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Lugi1967
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 5:56:11 PM
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Who cares
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