New pollution: The importance of producing PV with minimal VOCs
For solar specifically, regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) are commonly used. S&SE oxidizers excel in the capture and/or treatment of the various chemicals and VOCs inherent to the manufacturing of all types of solar panels. Renewable energy isn’t inherently “ green ” or “ clean .” Solar energy is generated from products that are mass produced in factories that have their own carbon footprints and environmental pros and cons that vary depending on the facility, company and/or country or state of origin. Ship & Shore Environmental (S&SE) , a pioneer in clean air technologies, has been readying systems geared toward solar facilities in preparation for the upcoming post-Inflation-Reduction-Act (IRA) U.S. solar manufacturing boom. // ** advertisement **// Solar Builder is the go-to magazine for solar professionals, from residential installers and EPCs to developers and IPPs. It is published quarterly and is available for Solar Industry Professionals. Subscribe Today for FREE “ Reshoring of PV panel production presents an incredible opportunity for the U.S. and its manufacturers to lead the world by example,” says Anoosheh Oskouian, CEO of Ship & Shore Environmental. “There are so many environmental and financial incentives for companies to develop and implement cost-effective pollution abatement solutions in their manufacturing. Cleaner production now will also help make future solar panel recycling safer and more affordable.” S&SE is in talks with a handful of solar assembly facilities right now and offers a host of services around pollution abatement, including consultation, customized engineering, design, fabrication and on-site deployment of new and retrofit equipment. // ** advertisement **// For solar specifically, regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) are commonly used. S&SE oxidizers excel in the capture and/or treatment of the various chemicals and VOCs inherent to the manufacturing of all types of solar panels. PV with minimal VOCs The PV panel assembly process involves thin films, light glass materials and silicone-based materials, all of which must be chemically coated. Some of the potentially hazardous chemicals used in solar panel manufacturing, if not handled properly, include cadmium and lead, as well as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), such as various alcohols, silicones, acetates and hydrochloric acid, among others. “Whether they use thin films, whether they go with glass material or silicon-based materials, they need chemical coatings in order for it to be able to sustain,” Oskouian says. “Without proper treatment, the waste from fabrication of solar panels would otherwise go to landfills.” The coatings are really where VOCs come into play, which is what Ship & Shore seeks to eliminate. “This stuff is lighter than air and some of the chemicals are potentially deadly. Inhaling just a small amount could cause serious problems,” Oskouian says. VOCs are also hugely problematic for the environment and populations beyond the facility if unregulated. “Some of the facilities that we had looked at have multiple layers of coating that is applied for strengthening and for conductivity,” she says. “So, depending on what the application is, the end result would create all of that exhaust from various applications to go out of a chimney.” Controlling chemical air pollution means collecting from areas where the chemicals are directly applied on top of any surfaces (i.e., the coating area, where glue is applied, a drying oven) as well as the post-production staging area where products give off “fugitives.” Oskouian says they “capture all of that from a direct source inside. On the outside, we build enclosures around the area to collect VOCs that are in the air.” The VOCs are sucked through ducts and piping and then destructed in a process of combustion with heat, that is generated “by everything that we have collected.” The end result of Ship & Shore’s process is water vapor, CO2 and the destruction of 98 to 99% of all VOCs collected. Secondly, after controlling for VOC pollution, Ship & Shore designs systems to provide heat recovery — capturing heat energy from the plant and reusing it. Of nations and regulations Often the extent of what S&SE can do — or how readily a solution is adopted — comes down to state regulations of emissions allowed from a facility. California, which has the most stringent air pollution rules in the country, is referred to as 10-ton area — 10 tons is the maximum a facility can send out. So, thinking back to the 98 to 99% VOC destruction — “basically, that 2% of the overall emissions can go out and they will stay below the allowable levels,” Oskouian explains. Texas is a surprisingly close second with between […]
