Reply #4: Cadmium is dangerous in nearly all of its forms [View All]

[Dogmudgeon]

Different forms may vary, but they are almost all highly toxic. And the most common stable forms and breakdown by-products are the most highly toxic.

Well-manufactured materials pose very little risk. The risk is in the waste products of the manufacturing process, as you noted, and disposing of the products, in this case, solar cells. A few years' exposure to the elements, and a significant hazard could be created.

That is why I am a much stronger proponent of heliothemal (it sounds cooler than "solar thermal", dunnit?) power. It is much lower-tech and has a higher energy yield. It would be easier to bring to the marketplace.

Some of the articles I see would have us believe that by 2014, we will be able to buy a 10 kWH solar panel array from Home Depot for $495 and install it with hand tools. Useful solar energy is a lot further off than that. Even with heliothemal technology, it's going to require a major effort in a short period of time.

--p!