Precious Metals In Solar Panels

Thin cheap solar panels need tellurium which makes up a scant 0 0000001 percent of the earth s crust making it three times rarer than gold.

Precious metals in solar panels.

In 2011 the average price of rare earth metals shot up by as much as 750 percent. An average solar panel uses some 20 grams or 0 643 troy ounces of silver. Experts have found that the rare metals required to build solar panels such as indium and tellurium are not in sufficient supply to keep up with demand. However as cru notes in the report this would result in the need for more less effective panels.

Silver s use for solar panel manufacturing is around 80 million troy ounces per year or currently about 8 of annual silver supply. But silver s cost contribution to solar panels outweighs its proportional expense over virtually any other application it has other than perhaps jewelry silverware or in 999 fine bullion coin or bar form. But it needs the sun to work which makes it less practical in places where overcast days are common. Basically anything that has an on off switch includes copper thanks to its incredible ability to conduct electricity and we.

High performance batteries need lithium which is only easily extracted from briny pools in the andes. There are a lot of things to like about solar power. Two thirds of an ounce of silver in every solar panel may not sound costly given today s silver spot price. Researchers are using bacteria to give solar an energy boost.

There is also talk of substituting silver with copper in solar panel production.