A 100 GW of solar energy by the end of 2022, is the target the Government of India has set for the country. Already half way through, Indians are rampantly opting for solar power as a clean, efficient and sustainable driver or energy. As the issue of climate change soars, there is a need now more than ever to highlight the importance of making sustainable choices. While the investment in solar might seem high at the first glance, the long term benefits largely outweigh any financial dilema one might have.
However, before jumping into solar installation, not only is it important to understand the options available, be it a rooftop installation or a ground-mounted one, financial options or the viability of having solar installed, but understanding the basics of how it works. Taking this a step further, it is important to also understand what your solar panels that help retain and convert the sun’s rays into energy, are actually made of and how they are manufactured.
Vivaan Solar procures their solar panels from select manufacturers ensuring that they are of the best and highest standard. Keeping in tune with the necessary quality control checks and price constraints, Vivaan Solar then matches the best suited and highest quality solar panels available. Prior to the actual purchase a thorough inspection of the incoming panels and modules with reference to quality is done at the factory end of the supplier. The sample is also sent for testing prior to purchase for every brand of panels they procure.
What are solar panels made of?
The most common ingredient in solar panels is silicon. Every panel can consist of approximately 70 silicon cells which convey light energy into electric energy. The outer frame is made of non-brittle glass, which is extremely transparent, easy to maintain and great from a safety aspect as well. In addition to the silicon, which is made either from crystalline or amorphous silicon, it also includes a battery, wiring and an inverter with a photovoltaic system to be able to generate electricity. How much energy is generated will depend on how they have been constructed.
As mentioned before silicon in solar panels is either crystalline silicon or amorphous silicon. Crystalline silicon is usually found in disks that are 1 cm thick and are polished to absorb light. The amorphous silicon on the other hand can be rolled into extremely thin chips and then that absorbs the light. It is less susceptible to damage during installation and transportation mainly because of its size. While setting up these panels, a type of cooling agent is also used to prevent or reduce overheating.
Typically, solar panels have a life expectancy of 20 years. However, with Vivaan Solar as an energy partner this life expectancy can be increased to a minimum of 25 years. With top of the line maintenance and operation systems in place, Vivaan solar ensures that you get the maximum output in terms of energy generation and that the panels are well maintained further increasing their lifespan and generation capacity.
Why silicon?
There are a number of reasons why silicon is one of the most important materials used to make solar panels. Not only is it a semiconductor it in fact also has a few properties of an insulator and as such eliminates the need to add a layer of insulation to prevent shock. Silicon as a material with its properties is a conductor of electricity in one direction and an insulator in the other. Silicon is also photosensitive and is non-toxic as well, reporting an efficiency of energy conversion of more than 20 percent.
Considering that solar energy is a sustainable source of energy the material that is used for it should be easily available and silicon is in fact the second most abundant element on earth. As a result of its easy availability it is also cheap compared to its substitutes.
What is the future of solar panels?
While solar panels aid in sustainable energy conservation, they themselves will generate a ton of e-waste once they reach their end. The International Renewable Energy Agency in a report stated that ‘by 2050, 78 million metric tons of solar panels will have reached the end of their life and that the world will be generating about 6 million metric tons of new solar e-waste annually.’
Some of this waste will decompose gradually, while others will need tailor made solutions. Since this is just the start to the solar revolution, there is still time, but attention needs to be paid to ensure that this does not get out of hand.
The panels procured by Vivaan Solar come with a warranty of 25 years. Solar is a relatively new concept and solar companies are yet to complete the life cycle of a plant (25 years), for the disposal and waste generation of these lakhs of modules to even begin. Once their life and performance cycles come to term, certified mentors must be allocated to pick them up and recycle the e-waste like the frames and silicon chips in the correct manner. A government approved SOP needs to be collated and distributed for efficient recycling.
Currently, India does not have a specific disposal policy for the solar panels. As of now the only plan is to sell it as scrap as we do with other e-waste. SolarPower Europe and PVCycle, supported by the European Union in India and the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy alone could generate over 34,600 tonnes of cumulative solar waste in India by 2030, according to a report prepared by the National Solar Energy Federation of India.
Addressing the issue, the management at Vivaan Solar said, “When we reach a point where we need to recycle the solar panels, we will ensure that the standard SOPs of disposal or any recycling process as is statutory or mandated by the government is followed. While solar is a sustainable energy solution and is definitely environment friendly, it is no secret that there is a need for a proper disposal system to be set in place. Till that happens, what we as a solar company can do is not only advocate and push for a proper system of disposal but also keep the research going at our end to see how we can best contribute, in either minimising or better recycling the e-waste.”