Cadmium Solar Panels

Cadmium telluride cdte is the most common type of thin film solar cell in production.

Cadmium solar panels.

As the second most common photovoltaic technology on the market behind traditional crystalline silicon cadmium telluride cdte panels are already a viable thin film solar panel solution. They also contain lead cadmium and other toxic even carcinogenic chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel. First solar a us based manufacturer makes attractive pv modules that can be used in home applications. Worse rainwater can wash many of these toxics out of the fragments of solar modules over time.

On a lifecycle basis cdte pv has the smallest carbon footprint lowest water use and shortest energy payback time of any current photo voltai. One main energy producing layer made from the compound cadmium telluride and surrounding layers for electricity conduction and collection. Cadmium telluride photovoltaics describes a photovoltaic technology that is based on the use of cadmium telluride in a thin semiconductor layer designed to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. The most common cdte solar cells consist of a simple p n heterojunction structure containing a p doped cdte layer matched with an n doped cadmium sulfide cds layer which acts as a window layer.

Cdte thin film panels are made from several thin layers. Approximately 90 of most pv modules are made up of glass. You might think of solar panels as a top sustainability solution. Worker exposure to cadmium can occur in all industry sectors but mostly in manufacturing and construction.

Cadmium is a heavy metal and extremely dangerous. Cadmium fumes may cause flu like symptoms and more severe respiratory problems. Cadmium telluride cdte is a commonly used material in thin film solar modules. This type of substrate is the most used with manufacturing thin film solar panels and holds 50 percent of market share.

The expanding ni cd battery recycling industry is a concern for cadmium exposure. The debate over the toxic potential of thin film solar panels based on cadmium compounds has been reignited. This structure is similar to the heterojunction in cigs cells. Solar panels generate 300 times more toxic waste per unit of energy than nuclear power plants.

Cadmium telluride pv is the only thin film technology with lower costs than conventional solar cells made of crystalline silicon in multi kilowatt systems. An issue with using thin film panels with a cdte is that they contain a large amount of cadmium which is a toxic element.