However a lack of rare earths does not mean that the components of solar modules are harmless.
Rare earth minerals solar panels.
Just like solar cells wind turbines also rely on a few mineral commodities that have been designated as critical.
Aluminum and rare earth elements.
Thin film pv technologies for example contain potentially critical metals such as tellurium.
Currently marketed photovoltaic solar technologies do not use rare earths.
Typical wind turbine and major components aluminum.
However recent research coming out of the netherlands has spotted a red flag to relying on solar panels as a panacea for global emissions problems.
Wind turbines increasingly dot the american landscape rising hundreds of feet in the air to capture electricity from the movement of the wind.
To meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets under the paris agreement renewable energy production has to scale up fast.
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