Ethical Panels?

[Energetic]

I'd like some views on which modules are the most ethical. Many are produced by massive multinational corporations with intrests in not so ethical industries.

We have a quote to do for a conservation group and not sure they'd be interested in panels made by monsterous oil companies no matter how good the build quality or price...

All opinions will be respected...

 

[Worcester]

If you dig deep enough you wont find a single panel....

Romag, supplies the Israeli defence force
Sharp mainly an assembler, some cells (and panels) made in china

Then check all the chinese and look at the poltuion associated with the production of aluminium for the frames.

Solar panels you can install with a clear conscience | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Even the best of the best listed there still have something to answer for if you dig

 

[whlphil]

A lot of the energy requirement for a panel comes from the manufacture of the silicone, something like 70%, REC from Norway produce their silicone using Hydro electric (not all of it but most of it) and use a proprietary process that uses much less power, which means there embedded carbon payback times are around a year compared to chinese panels produced using coal generation at 6 to 7 years (Yingli is included in those).

Interestingly Yingli dont produce all the silicone they use in their panels hence there is a risk that some of the silicone could have been produced by someone with lower ethical standards.

Granted REC ships the cells to Singapore to assemble them but this is not a major part of the overall carbon cost in the panels.

No panels are perfect - but they are certainly a lot more eco than a coal powered power station - I think the REC panels come with fairly high morals and are good performers although not the cheapest I do think they are a good balance.

 

[alarm man]

the co-op dabble in solar stuff,they always go on about there ethical stuff,so in theory who they use should be an ethical company..

 

[whlphil]

the co-op dabble in solar stuff,they always go on about there ethical stuff,so in theory who they use should be an ethical company..

I think you'll find most of the supermarkets dont know very much about solar, and I dont mean that in a condescending way Ive had involvement and like always its mainly price..

 

[alarm man]

I think you'll find most of the supermarkets dont know very much about solar, and I dont mean that in a condescending way Ive had involvement and like always its mainly price..

i was on about ethics,which the co-op say they do..im not sure if the co-op fit them or just give out grants..

 

[Energetic]

Interesting thought, Co-ops' tower in manchester is covered in custom made sharp 80wp modules according to: Case study: CIS Tower Manchester | Institution of Mechanical Engineers

 

[whlphil]

i was on about ethics,which the co-op say they do..im not sure if the co-op fit them or just give out grants..

I suppose you can say they have ethics as most of them are looking at installing panels, but they werent installing a lot of them before it was profitable to do so, I think theyve jumped on the band wagon of reselling a n other's install package - certainly Tesco have.

I dont doubt that they consider where the panels come from but not sure who they are using yet.

 

[whlphil]

CIS Tower aside! lol

 

[Worcester]

the co-op dabble in solar stuff,they always go on about there ethical stuff,so in theory who they use should be an ethical company..

From personal experience of dealing with the co-op on variuos renewable technologies, they want to be 'seen to be green'.

However knowing the way that they have treated various landowners with respect to some of their schemes, it is clear that they are only in it for the money.

I won't allow any of our family even to walk into one of their shops.

 

[daytona600]

only real market survey , the green oscars in usa - svtc awards 2011 silicon valley toxics coalition
enviromental , sustainbility , social justice factors

last two years won by solarworld
number one 91/100

first solar 87/100 very strange as there cdte modules have cadium in them
rec 87/100 but have to be shipped twice around the world , lots of green miles
sunpower 85/100 shipped long distance
trina 89/100 shipped long distance
yingli 72/100 shipped long distance
sharp 0/100 did not complete survey

solarworld made in northern germany , very low green miles to the uk , silicon processing/wafers/cells/modules/frames/junction boxes
all made in house , glass / cable / connectors all sourced locally , they also offer end on life recycling of there modules

shipped virtually packing free from factory

also lots of large free projects to the thrid world , earthquake in hiati 100kwp off grid system for hospital , south africa world cup and many others

100% solar , no nuclear defence oil gas etc

also great modules , i,m biased as i sell them
10year warranty , 25year linear power warranty , positive power tolerance , very compact 31mm deep , TUV power controlled , photon & otto award winners - german build quality
complete range mcs 155-250Wp poly , mono & all black mono , state of the art yields in all seasons

 

[whlphil]

CdTe is a stable molecule, think NaCl you wouldnt want to eat Sodium or Chlorine on their own as theyre not very good for you but as table salt I bet youve had some.

Granted Cadmium is not good on its own and you need good practices and health monitoring if your going to work with it longterm (that is in its raw form during manufacturing - not out on site where there's no worries) but mixed with Tellurium its pretty stable. Youve got to remember that Cadmium is a by-product of a number of industrial processes and would otherwise be dumped as its banned from most other things as its generally used as a stand alone element hence combining it into a stable compound is not too bad an idea.

Solarworld - very good modules but unfortunately Ive had a few bad experiences with their sales staff being fairly dismissive of the UK market. Do you sell them in the UK?