![Sunny and Spinny, the ballet of solar panels and wind turbines](/storage/articles_images/30.jpg)
Circular Economy
By: Davide Colombo;
Sunny and Spinny, the ballet of solar panels and wind turbines
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Additionally, there are steps and an act to be seen and danced to, just like in any respectable ballet.
The production phase brings the panel to life. Silicon, glass, aluminum, and other materials are sourced for manufacture. It is an energy-intensive procedure that should have been designed utilizing renewable energy to keep the carbon footprint in the life assessment cycle (LCA) as low as possible.
The installation and operation: in this section, the panels are put on rooftops or in solar farms and can generate electricity for an average of 25-30 years. This section places a strong emphasis on maintenance to maintain optimal performance. To keep the carbon footprint in the LCA below the average bar, transportation should be avoided using conventional means associated with carbon fossil fuel vehicles.
Panels are removed and deactivated at the end of their useful life, assuming no incidents or failures occurred. This is a critical step in ensuring the circularity and sustainability of the initial investment. The rejected panels must be delivered to recycling facilities.
The recycling stage involves two processes: mechanical and chemical. During the mechanical phase, automated systems shred the panels to separate glass, metals, and other components. Chemical procedures use solvents, but thermal methods purify materials by recovering important elements such as silicon. The waste products that cannot be recovered advance to the grand finale.
Waste management: Non-recyclable items are processed in accordance with local regulations. Remember, dumping and incineration should be the final resort.
The manufacturing stage: this involves extracting raw materials such as copper, fiberglass, steel, and other elements. Similar to solar panels, it's critical to keep carbon emissions to a minimum and to use recycled materials and green energy sources whenever possible. Here, every component is put together to form parts like towers, nacelles, and blades.
Installation and operation: here, the panels convert mechanical energy into electric energy over a 20–25-year period. Similar to solar panels, efficiency and safety depend on regular maintenance.
The end-of-life phase: the turbines are disassembled and deactivated during this phase, which is the counterpart of Solar's first.
The recycling portion: the other metal components are separated and shipped for recycling, while the blades are the focus of cutting-edge technologies designed for recycling fibreglass blades. Melting the metal and inserting it into a new process for reusable repair in other industries is the most typical usage for it (the metal parts are usually used to repair the boat hulls).
The trash management phase: once more, materials that could not be recycled circularly should be handled per local waste disposal laws while keeping an eye on EU and SDG guidelines.
For solar panels and wind turbines to be truly ecologically friendly, sustainable methods must be used throughout their entire life cycle. End-of-life management procedures will be further enhanced by ongoing study and cooperation between businesses, governments, and environmental organizations. This is the only method that will lead to both a good theatrical composition and a more environmentally friendly method of energy production!