Even today the Government remains cautious

October 19, 2011 12:00 AM

This is a debate that rips the photovoltaic sector. On one side of industry as the Germans SolarWorld and Bosch, Norwegian REC or the subsidiary of GDF Suez and Total, Photovoltech. On the other, a society weighing more than $ 2 billion in sales, the American First Solar, resident partner of EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), and supported by the European Association of industrialists of the photovoltaic (Epia). The issue: the application to the solar of the European RoHS directive to restrict the use of hazardous substances (lead, mercure) in electrical and electronic equipment. In June, the European Parliament has proposed to exclude the photovoltaic panels to 2014, date at which things will be reviewed. But the European Council, the Commission and Parliament have yet to agree on a common text. A vote in plenary session of the whole of the directive could be held end of November.

Why this confrontation The American First Solar photovoltaic panels are not silicon, the traditional semiconductor solar industry, but cadmium telluride. Cadmium is a highly toxic by inhalation. It can be source of fever, kidney and lung damage or lung cancer. But it is not absorbed through the skin and its vicinity in solid form causes no damage. Therefore, questions arise:

Is it or not ban cadmium in solar panels Opponents point out the risks of fire emissions, and are worried about the recovery of cadmium content in the panels used. They are expected to operate for at least twenty-five years. But what will the sustainability of the provider to this deadline How to be sure that the owners of panels to engage well approach recycling from the provider and will not leave things in the State "Cadmium in solar panels, it is the asbestos of tomorrow", it carries an industrial under the seal of anonymity.

Cadmium defenders counter that fire, emissions would be negligible, far less than even those of a central coal or fuel oil in normal operation. First Solar adds that he has put in place a program that can recycle 90 the collected modules, and an escrow account to fund the process in the case of disappearance of the company.

Today, Bosch, SolarWorld or REC require the abandonment of the cadmium in solar panels at the end of a transition period of four years. First Solar, it is vital to their stand in the way. Acquired in 1999 by a John t. Walton, son of the founder of Wal-Mart, First Solar is a company in full growth, followed by 50 analysts, but it is a fragile product that mono because. It has therefore invested in strengthening its teams in Brussels and Berlin. "Today, they have the best lobbyists in the sector," said a Chinese competitor.

"If the solar panels are excluded from the directive, signs distributed in Europe by 2020 will contain thousands of tonnes of toxic heavy metals", said in July the company Bosch, REC, SolarWorld, Atersa, Photovoltech, Solland and Wacker in a letter to European governments. "All photovoltaic technologies are secure and present no risk to human health and the environment", insists his side the Epia, European Union photovoltaic technology.

First Solar has also from him the Non Toxic Solar Alliance, a pressure group of scientists and representatives of the solar sector. Created that is nearly a year, this association attempts to extend the RoHS directive in the solar sector. Only 20 of its members are known.

Each camp aligns his studies. In 2005, work carried out by American and German scientists under the leadership of the Commission on European and German Ministry of the environment concluded that the widespread use of solar panels based on cadmium telluride presented no risk to public health and the environment. In the face, the Wuppertal Institute says that that type of signs is a threat if they are used as "improper and unprofessional".

Each, of course, wondered about the relevance or the independence of the studies of the opposing camp. First Solar for example highlights the absence of replay peer studies his adversaries as is customary in scientific publications. They are not left: "the report of the European Commission we seems to have limited scientific value-l' one of the four reviewers has heavily criticized its conclusions.". "It is exceeded to more recent studies", explains in Bosch.

In France, fact cadmium telluride also debate. Total for example chose to not be used. "We have decided to exclude cadmium Telluride, which us seems to be the absence of danger of the product life-cycle of our projects demonstrated."

"sufficiently", explained Vincent Schachter, Director R & D branch gas & Energies Nouvelles in Total. EDF EN on the other hand joined First Solar to build a plant for solar panels of 111 megawatts to Blanquefort (Gironde). The Green subsidiary of EDF, which funds half the plant, is committed to purchase all of the production for ten years. Upstream, EDF Energies Nouvelles and First Solar asked a panel of five experts led by Professor Daniel Lincot, CNRS, to carry out an independent study under the guidance of the Ministry of ecology and sustainable development. Conclusion of the work carried out in June 2009: the large scale of technology deployment can be considered safe for human health and the environment. No show occurs in air, water or soil during the operation of the systems. And accidental fires or broken panels, emissions are negligible. "A Panel includes just a few microns in Tellurides of cadmium between two plates of glass." "Fire, this material is still trapped inside the glass", explains Daniel Lincot.

The attitude of the French public authorities with regard to the cadmium has varied over time. In April 2009, the Commission on regulation of energy (CRE) has published a tender of 300 megawatts for the construction of solar power plants on the ground, which excluded the First Solar technology, before the returning on 18 July 2009, the study of Professor Lincot. A few days before the announcement of the project of EDF EN and First Solar

In a report on the photovoltaic sector filed in July 2009, the MP UMP Bernard Poignant shows on the other hand quite critical of cadmium, which has been at his eyes too many handicaps: danger for human health, scarcity of Telluride and market dominance exercised by a foreign company, namely First Solar. Published this summer, the General Inspection of finance Charpin report takes no position on the subject.

Even today, the Government remains cautious. "For security reasons, cadmium is not on the market of photovoltaics destined for individuals." "It is more used by solar farms, monitored and preserved the risk of fire," wrote Bernard Poignant. EDF in merely buy panels for the farms to the ground. What do little to his partner, First Solar, as in Germany, the panels based on cadmium telluride are present on the roof. "EDF would not take the risk of press articles referring to the presence of cadmium on homes." Moreover, there is a principle of precaution. "The response of the Government might have been different for this type of installation", says a senior official.

For First Solar, environmental issues are nonetheless as a pretext. "All these attacks are motivated by a logic of competition." "First Solar provides for a more competitive than our opponents, technology that disrupts the game", explains Pierre-Yves Le Borgn', Vice-President in charge of external relations in First Solar. In fact, the cadmium-based panels display the cost of production to watt lowest. Produced in just two and a half hours, they also allow a better absorption of light in unfavourable conditions of exposure. First Solar records very rapid growth with this technology. According to some analysts, its world market share could spend 13 today to 20 in 2012.

In the face, the European heavyweights of the crystalline silicon are under pressure. They must cope with the rapid development of Chinese competition, the decline in prices of purchases and development of First Solar plants on the ground and the large roofs. "The German photovoltaic industry will be rolled by the rise in power of First Solar." "It is a lethal threat to them," said a player of solar.

First Solar is also not the only to capitalize on this technology. GE bought a specialist in the field, the PrimeStar Solar company, in June 2008. The German manufacturer Q-Cells has a subsidiary called Calyxo Solar. Across the Atlantic, the American Abound Solar has a production capacity of 200 MW. Renowned for its industrial excellence, First Solar has a huge head start. The Group knows that it may perhaps not always avoid the application of the RoHS directive to solar panels. "The directive aims to prevent the use of hazardous substances where alternatives exist." But it is precisely the case in solar, says industrialist. Then why take risks "Prudent, First Solar is also preparing the future. According to Reuters, the group is working on another panels technology based on thin films, the CIGS. History not to put all its eggs in one basket.