First Solar boosts CdTe production capacity

[jpak]

http://compoundsemiconductor.net/cws/article/business/31364

US-based CdTe photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer First Solar is to build an additional production plant in Malaysia with an annual capacity of 120 MW.

This facility is scheduled to start production in 2009 and will be built next to two other First Solar plants that are currently under construction.

When all this work is complete First Solar will have 570 MW total annual production capacity.


The company already has manufacturing plants in the US and Germany with a combined annual capacity of 210 MW.

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[NickB79]

1. So, we're applauding more cadmium-based solar panels?

When it's been pointed out here many times that cadmium is a toxic heavy metal?

[jpak]

2. and it's been pointed out many times that

CdTe modules use very little Cd - a NiCd battery contains thousands of times more Cd than a CdTe module

CdTe modules are non-leaching

CdTe modules are encapsulated and do not release Cd into the environment even when subjected to residential fire regimes

http://www.nrel.gov/pv/cdte/

http://www.nrel.gov/pv/cdte/citizen.html

http://www.nrel.gov/pv/cdte/cadmium_facts.html

Now let's talk about the 750,000 tonnes of radioactive, highly corrosive, mobile and highly toxic depleted uranium hexafluoride produced during uranium enrichment that is currently stored in thousands of corroding casks around the US.

CdTe modules???

*yawn*