Photovoltaics
Crystalline Silicon solar panels
We offer the full range of Kyocera Solar's top quality crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) panels for grid connected and off-grid / remote applications.
Kyocera Solar's photovoltaic panel range for grid connected solar power systems include 135W, 180W and a 205W models. All three of these panels are ideal for 1kW and larger installations.
Unlike some inferior grade panels, our crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels are manufactured using only the highest grade of polysilicon resulting in every panel produced being of the highest performance.
Further, Kyocera's panels are manufactured responsibly with all silicon tetrachloride, the byproduct of polysilicon production, is completely recycled.
Polysilicon has toxic byproducts
The key component of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells is a substance known as polysilicon.
With the world price for polysilicon rising dramatically over the last few years as demand for PV has risen, new polysilicon producers in China have started production without dealing with the byproducts.
Silicon tetrachloride, the byproduct of polysilicon production, is a highly toxic substance that poses environmental hazards. If left untreated, silicon tetrachloride can break down in the environment into chlorine and hydrochloric acid.
For each tonne of polysilicon produced, the process generates at least four tonnes of silicon tetrachloride liquid waste.
It is possible to process silicon tetrachloride in an environmentally sensitive way as Kyocera Solar does, but it requires heating the material to 1000°C; a highly expensive process.
An excellent article on polysilicon pollution has been published by the Washington Post Newspaper. Click here to read the article.