this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2026
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commercial solar cells, at reasonable cost range from 20%-25% efficient. I didn't comment on your original 10% efficient "land availability" because some empty space should exist.
I thought I referred to 0.1%, but yes, let's leave some empty space (i.e. maybe ≥ 99.9%).
Again my concerns were/are efficiency and toxicity.
Glass tubes, painted black (or using a relatively non-toxic paint to decrease the albedo to, say, < 0.1), filled with water might have a high efficiency; are easily made (possibly 19th century technology); and with a relatively low impact on the environment.
PVCs other than silicon-based seem to require rare earths and other substances that are either toxic and/or are worse for the environment in mining and refining. Again, this is not to say to not use any, but not to when cheaper and/or environmentally better (or less bad) alternatives exist for particular uses.
The only toxic solar panels (cadmium) are US First Solar (company name) panels. Chinese panels are non-toxic. There are no rare earths in PV solar panels. Rare earths are in electric motors.