Precious Metals In Solar Panels

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.

Precious metals in solar panels. However as cru notes in the report this would result in the need for more less effective panels. There are a lot of things to like about solar power. But it needs the sun to work which makes it less practical in places where overcast days are common. 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.

An average solar panel uses some 20 grams or 0 643 troy ounces of silver. Silver s use for solar panel manufacturing is around 80 million troy ounces per year or currently about 8 of annual silver supply. Researchers are using bacteria to give solar an energy boost. Two thirds of an ounce of silver in every solar panel may not sound costly given today s silver spot price.

In 2011 the average price of rare earth metals shot up by as much as 750 percent. 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. Copper like neodymium copper isn t scarce but we need a lot of it. It helps the world kick the fossil fuel habit it s clean and plentiful and leaves no carbon footprint.

Basically anything that has an on off switch includes copper thanks to its incredible ability to conduct electricity and we.