Cadnium Teller Solar Panels

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.

Cadnium teller solar panels. Approximately 90 of most pv modules are made up of glass. Solar panels generate 300 times more toxic waste per unit of energy than nuclear power plants. Cadmium telluride cdte is the most common type of thin film solar cell in production. Worse rainwater can wash many of these toxics out of the fragments of solar modules over time.

What is cdte and why should i care. The company was incorporated as ava solar in 2007 and was rebranded as abound solar in march 2009. They also contain lead cadmium and other toxic even carcinogenic chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel. Cadmium telluride pv is the only thin film technology with lower costs than conventional solar cells made of crystalline silicon in multi kilowatt systems.

On a lifecycle basis cdte pv has the smallest carbon footprint lowest water use and shortest energy payback time of any current photo voltai. It could be the future of solar. Cadmium telluride cdte photovoltaics or also called cadmium telluride solar cell is a kind of photovoltaic pv technology that can produce electricity from sunlight using a thin film of compound cadmium telluride to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. Abound solar was a manufacturer of cadmium telluride modules a thin film photovoltaic technology based in the united states.

Cadmium telluride is a direct bandgap material with bandgap energy of about 1 45 defined ev which is well matched to the solar spectrum and nearly optimal for converting sunlight into electricity using a single junction. In this video i will explain what cadmium telluride or cdte solar panels are all abou. One main energy producing layer made from the compound cadmium telluride and surrounding layers for electricity conduction and collection. It operated a production facility in longmont colorado.

Cdte thin film panels are made from several thin layers. In relation to solar panels the cdte is safe while encapsulated in the module but if the panel is damaged and exposed to water the cadmium telluride could leach into the water. Solar panels often contain lead cadmium and other toxic chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel.