Renewable Energy - Progress of Mankind

The world will impossibly develop sustainably if it continues to destroy rivers and forests to build hydropower generators. Fossil energy is being exhausted because it is fully exploited for thermal power generation.

The installed capacity of photovoltaics in the world's top 10 countries - 2017

As coal power is no longer a top priority in the development strategy due to its harmful impact on the environment, nuclear power has been stopped, hydropower does not have much room left for development and gas-fired electricity needs long time for development, the rise of renewable energies such as wind power and solar power is seen as a destiny for the world to be a safer and better place for everyone.

Chosen “destiny”

From 2018 to June 2019, more than 330 solar power projects were submitted to the Government for approval, of which 121 projects were approved with a total generation capacity of 6,100 MW by 2020 and7,200 MW by 2030. In addition, 221 projects are waiting for approval, with a combined registered capacity of more than 14,330 MW.

Data released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade showed that, by the end of September 2020, the total installed capacity of renewable energy will reach 5.5 GW, including solar power, wind power and biomass power.

MSc Dao Minh Hien, Director of the R&D Center - Pecc2, pointed out that the commercial lifespan of a solar power project is 25 years, which can be extended, depending on the approach of the business. In Vietnam, it is 20-30 years to come before we start considering options to process expired solar panels.

The step of time has turned the trajectory of the global energy development path. Right now, each of us needs to understand the “truth” of solar panels to avoid unjust judges when solar power is considered a proud scientific and technological achievement of mankind.

Solar farm combined with ecotourism

According to SolarTech (USA), the lifespan of PV panels is 20-30 years. Some solar modules made in from the 1970s and 1980s are still in good use. Many US state and federal regulatory agencies conducted experiments to test their danger to the environment. Most products passed these tests and these agencies did not assign solar panels to the control list applied to hazardous waste.

Also according to SolarTech, in the US, unused solar panels (expired or damaged) are an input for remaking of solar panels or using for other environmentally friendly purposes, not seen to be or suspected of being a hazardous waste. All materials used to make solar panels are recycled and reused,

Specifically, in a solar panel, the heaviest components are usually the tempered glass panel that accounts for 65% of weight, followed by the frame at 20% and photoelectric panels at 6-8%, and other components. Total weight of glass panels, frame and photovoltaic modules accounts for about 91-93% of the total weight of a solar panel. Thus, most of materials in a solar panel can be recycled and recovered for recycling.

Travelling next to Sao Mai Solar Park

IRENA - which stands for International Renewable Energy Agency - was established in 2009 to encourage the increased use and distribution of renewable energy in all its forms. It estimated that, by 2050, two billion new solar panels will be produced entirely from this source of reusable materials.

This means that 630 GW of clean energy will be produced, using recycled materials. In addition, solar panel recycling factories will create more job opportunities for people. In a study on solar panel recycling, it is estimated that recovered materials could be worth US$450 million by 2030 and more than US$15 billion by 2050.

Currently, many factories are processing old solar panels at a recycling rate of up to 96%. Recently, Veolia (which is famous for combating climate change, protecting resources and conserving ecosystems) said 40 tons of solar panels can be recycled each year. Recycling a ton of solar panels means reducing 1.2 tons of CO2 emissions. Its new factory, located in Rousset, southern France, plans to recycle up to 4,000 tons by 2022.

A very new, very optimistic signal makes investors feel very confident to step into the renewable energy industry.

To be continued

Source: Tri Thuc Tre