Agenda - 05-27-2014 - C1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W1 Hazardous Materials Question. What, if any, health risks do chemicals used in solar panels and other devices used in solar PV arrays pose if they are released into the environment? Bottom Line Because PV panel materials are enclosed, and don't mix with water or vaporize into the air, there is little, if any, risk of chemical releases to the environment during normal use The most common type of PV panels is made of tempered glass, which is quite strong They pass hail tests, and are regularly installed in Arctic and Antarctic conditions only in the unlikely event of a sufficiently hot fire is there a slight chance that chemicals could be released. This is unlikely because most residential fires are not hot enough to melt PV components and PV systems must conform to state and federal fire safety, electrical and building codes. Transformers used at PV installations, that are similar to the ones used throughout the electricity distribution system in cities and towns, have the potential to release chemicals if they leak or catch fire Transformer coolants containing halogens have some potential for toxic releases to the air if combusted However, modern transformers typically use non -toxic coolants, such as mineral oils Potential releases from transformers using these coolants at PV installations are not expected to present a risk to human health More Information. Ground - mounted PV solar arrays are typically made up of panels of silicon solar cells covered by a thin layer of protective glass attached to an inert solid underlying substance (or "substrate ") While the vast majority ofPV panels currently in use are made of silicon, certain types of solar cells may contain cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium diselenide (CIS), and gallium arsenide (GaAs) All solar panel materials, including the chemicals noted above, are contained in a solid matrix, insoluble and non - volatile at ambient conditions, and enclosed Therefore, releases to the ground from leaching, to the air from volatilization during use, or from panel breakage, are not a concern Particulate emissions could only occur if the materials were ground to a fine dust, but there is no realistic scenario for this. Panels exposed to extremely high heat could emit vapors and particulates from PV panel components to the air However, researchers have concluded that the potential for emissions derived from PV components during typical fires is limited given the relatively short - duration of most fires and the high melting point ( >1000 degrees Celsius) of PV materials compared to the roof level temperatures typically observed during residential fires (800 -900 degrees Celsius). In the rare instance where a solar panel might be subject to higher temperatures, the silicon and other chemicals that comprise the solar panel would likely bind to the glass that covers the PV cells and be retained there Release of any toxic materials from solid state inverters is also unlikely provided appropriate electrical and installation requirements are followed For more information on public safety and fire, see the Public Safety section of this document We should also note that usually the rain is sufficient to keep the panels clean, so no extra cleaning in which cleaning products might be used, is necessary. 5