Replacing Your Old Solar Panels? Don’t Throw Away Valuable Silver Too
Photovoltaic solar panels that generate electricity might seem like a new technology. But the fact is, they have been in widespread use for more than a decade now. Whether you’re a business that installed solar panels to lower your energy costs, a company that manufactures solar panels, or even a homeowner that jumped on the solar bandwagon early, If you’re replacing your old solar system with a new one, don’t toss your old panels away or – worse – let your installer take your old panels away.
They could contain valuable quantities of silver that you can recycle. Here’s what you need to know.
Thin-Film Panels
Many newer inexpensive panels are “thin-film” models that contain very thin layers of cadmium telluride, not silver. Interestingly, they are not very efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, but their lower cost appeals to many buyers. The cadmium telluride that they contain has usually been applied by using sputtering targets, which we have discussed often on this blog in the past.
Thick-Film Panels
More expensive new panels, and almost all older ones, use “thick-film” technology. In other words, they contain relatively thicker layers of silver. These panels are more efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, but their cost is higher.
How Much Silver Could Your Thick-Film Solar Panels Contain?
It depends, but a used thick-film solar panel could contain as many as 13 troy ounces of silver. With current silver prices hovering at about $20 per troy ounce, the silver in each of your panels could be worth as much as $160. The trick is to speak with Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners, America’s leading silver refinery, to learn more. If you give us a call at 800-426-2344, we’ll be pleased to explain how you can convert those flat solar panels into cold, hard cash.
Related Posts:
How Solar Panel Manufacturers Let $MILLIONS Slip through Their Fingers
New Applications for Precious Metals Keep Demand and Prices High
Plating Primer: How Do Sputtering Targets Work?
Buying or Selling a Business? Recycle Precious Metals before They Slip Away