Comments on: Renewable Energy’s Dark Side: Solar Panels and Hazardous Waste

By: Barry Solar

Barry Solar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:40:46 +0000

I read it as a dig on Evergreen too. But stepping above that I agree that there are a lot of nasty stuff used in most modern industrys, including Solar. Solar Panels even have Oil as a component. Coal is/was no better, waste was thrown in to the oceans creating a layer of “cement” covering everything in sight.

The benefit of Solar is the operating waste is practically nill.

By: solar panels

solar panels — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:13:44 +0000

I am surprised that The chemicals reported include hydrogen flouride, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide.

By: Derek Markham

Derek Markham — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:11:13 +0000

Mark –

I just re-read the post, based on your comment, and you’re right, it does appear rather negative toward Evergreen. I know there are other polluters in renewables (and yeah, China is really bad about toxic manufacturing processes/waste).

I just picked up on a report saying that Evergreen is on its way to being MA’s top hazardous waste producers, and that was the seed for the article. I’ll work on a bigger picture post that doesn’t pick on one company by name.

I notice that you’re in solar installation – Who would you say is the cleanest?

By: TheEnergyMiser

TheEnergyMiser — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:56:22 +0000

Derek, your piece reads more like a “hit piece” on Evergreen Solar. As PV companies go, they are of the more responsible. For example, they do not use lead in their panels and their string ribbon tech is the most energy efficient manufacturing process of any of the solar module makers.

And, they are a relatively small producer. If you want to talk about hazwaste look at the big suppliers and makers that make all their panels in China (so they don’t have to deal with the environmental regulations).

Sharp, Sanyo, Sunpower, Suntech, etc. etc. etc. Evergreen is about 15th on the list of solar panel makers.

Regards,
Mark