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<p>[QUOTE="Gam3rBlake, post: 7614940, member: 115909"]I was watching a video where Elon Musk was talking about solar panels and how only 12.3 million homes have solar panels and he mentioned that silver is required to build them as it has the highest thermal conductivity and thus the most efficient for the job.</p><p><br /></p><p>So naturally I became curious and I wanted to find out how much silver was actually used for solar panels.</p><p><br /></p><p>I came across this:</p><p><br /></p><p>“<b>Silver</b> is so crucial that it can equate up to 6 percent of the total cost of building each unit of the <b>panel</b>. The average <b>panel</b> of approximately 2 square meters can use up to 20 grams of <b>silver</b>.”</p><p><br /></p><p>But that’s just one ☝️ panel.</p><p><br /></p><p>According to EnergySage:</p><p><br /></p><p>“We estimate that a typical home needs between 20 and 25 <b>solar panels</b> to cover 100 percent of its electricity usage.”</p><p><br /></p><p>So let’s be conservative.</p><p><br /></p><p>20 grams of silver per panel</p><p>X 20 solar panels.</p><p><br /></p><p>Approximately 400 grams of silver per home. Or ~12.8 troy oz. Per home.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let’s assume that solar power “goes “mainstream” and not just a small minority of homes have it but a majority. I know a lot of people do have it already but it’s still only a small minority. If climate change is addressed with heavy tax breaks for things like solar panels</p><p>(remember the Cash for Clunkers program where the government paid people for fuel inefficient cars?) and 10% of Americans get solar power for their homes that’s hundreds of millions of ounces of silver demand.</p><p><br /></p><p>Then factor in all the other countries who would also be investing in solar panels to fight climate change as it’s a global issue not a national issue.</p><p><br /></p><p>If millions of Americans get solar panels that’s great for planet earth in general not just America.</p><p><br /></p><p>I imagine many countries are even more progressive towards combatting climate change than America. So why wouldn’t they also encourage solar? Among things like electric cars and other greenhouse emission reducing lifestyle choices.</p><p><br /></p><p>Then the demand for silver for solar would be in the billions of ounces. If the industry grew rapidly that demand could stay long term or even grow larger.</p><p><br /></p><p>Lastly solar panels are meant to last quite a length of time. So it’s not like the silver from them would be recycled like e-waste very often. Maybe every 15 years. If they even bothered to recycle.</p><p><br /></p><p>Idk I just feel like once it’s cheap enough and able to be done in massive numbers eventually solar powered homes will be a way of life everywhere & the fact that they require large amounts of silver seems like it might be wise to get some.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Gam3rBlake, post: 7614940, member: 115909"]I was watching a video where Elon Musk was talking about solar panels and how only 12.3 million homes have solar panels and he mentioned that silver is required to build them as it has the highest thermal conductivity and thus the most efficient for the job. So naturally I became curious and I wanted to find out how much silver was actually used for solar panels. I came across this: “[B]Silver[/B] is so crucial that it can equate up to 6 percent of the total cost of building each unit of the [B]panel[/B]. The average [B]panel[/B] of approximately 2 square meters can use up to 20 grams of [B]silver[/B].” But that’s just one ☝️ panel. According to EnergySage: “We estimate that a typical home needs between 20 and 25 [B]solar panels[/B] to cover 100 percent of its electricity usage.” So let’s be conservative. 20 grams of silver per panel X 20 solar panels. Approximately 400 grams of silver per home. Or ~12.8 troy oz. Per home. Let’s assume that solar power “goes “mainstream” and not just a small minority of homes have it but a majority. I know a lot of people do have it already but it’s still only a small minority. If climate change is addressed with heavy tax breaks for things like solar panels (remember the Cash for Clunkers program where the government paid people for fuel inefficient cars?) and 10% of Americans get solar power for their homes that’s hundreds of millions of ounces of silver demand. Then factor in all the other countries who would also be investing in solar panels to fight climate change as it’s a global issue not a national issue. If millions of Americans get solar panels that’s great for planet earth in general not just America. I imagine many countries are even more progressive towards combatting climate change than America. So why wouldn’t they also encourage solar? Among things like electric cars and other greenhouse emission reducing lifestyle choices. Then the demand for silver for solar would be in the billions of ounces. If the industry grew rapidly that demand could stay long term or even grow larger. Lastly solar panels are meant to last quite a length of time. So it’s not like the silver from them would be recycled like e-waste very often. Maybe every 15 years. If they even bothered to recycle. Idk I just feel like once it’s cheap enough and able to be done in massive numbers eventually solar powered homes will be a way of life everywhere & the fact that they require large amounts of silver seems like it might be wise to get some.[/QUOTE]
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