Researchers in the United States reviewed claims about PFAS in solar panels and found that while fluoropolymers can be used in limited components such as backplates or coatings, there is no confirmed evidence of PFAS leaching from commercially used modules. The study highlights the widespread confusion between different PFAS types and highlights the need for clearer communication and transparency around the use of fluoropolymers in PV technologies.
In a perspective article, researchers write Michigan State University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory investigated claims about the presence and potential leaching of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from solar panels.
PFAS, known publicly as “forever chemicals,” are a broad class of thousands of synthetic compounds characterized by extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making them highly persistent in the environment and resistant to natural degradation processes over time. Because of this stability, they accumulate in ecosystems, wildlife, and sometimes in human tissues, increasing concerns about long-term environmental and health impacts.
Their chemical structure also gives them valuable industrial properties, such as resistance to heat, water, oil and chemical corrosion. Therefore, they are widely used in products such as non-stick coatings, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam and certain industrial materials. However, its persistence and widespread use have led to increasing regulatory scrutiny and efforts to reduce or replace it in many applications. As a result, PFAS are now at the center of global environmental discussions, weighing their technical benefits against their long-term environmental footprint.
“Our work is among the first to systematically clarify the presence and use of PFAS in solar PV modules by combining literature review with insights from discussions with PV experts,” corresponding author Preeti Nain told pv magazine. “The article clarifies how some fluoropolymers fall into a different category of PFAS and identifies where specific fluoropolymer compounds are used in PV modules.”
Fluoropolymers are a distinct subset of PFAS, with markedly different toxicological profiles than most other PFAS. They are large, insoluble and generally biologically inert, meaning they do not easily break down or accumulate in the same way that smaller, mobile PFAS compounds can. As a result, fluoropolymers themselves are often considered to have low bioavailability and limited direct toxicity under normal exposure conditions.
However, it is important to distinguish them from the substances traditionally used in their manufacture: some fluoropolymers were produced using process chemicals such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), both of which are well-documented legacy PFAS associated with environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and adverse health effects. Due to these concerns, PFOA and PFOS have been largely phased out or severely restricted by major manufacturers in the US and globally, under regulatory and voluntary industry initiatives.
According to the researchers, PFAS or fluoropolymers could theoretically be present in some specific parts of solar panels. They may appear for glass coatings, although there is no evidence of commercial use; in the back leaves, where they can be used for weather protection; and in wires and cables, as insulating material. Encapsulants and sealants, the scientists pointed out, generally do not contain PFAS.
Image: Michigan State University, perspective, CC BY 4.0
“Importantly, the work highlights that fluoropolymers are often not properly distinguished from the more dangerous PFAS, and that mischaracterizing them can lead to misleading conclusions about the environmental sustainability of PV technologies,” Nain added. “Our extensive literature review of PFAS in solar panels has revealed many speculations and laboratory tests of PFAS in solar applications, but no confirmed reports of PFAS contaminants leaching from real, commercially used solar panels.”
In addition to the literature review, the academics conducted a survey at a conference among 48 professionals, including module manufacturers, PV researchers, academic scientists and professionals with an operations and maintenance (O&M) background. According to responses, 59% of participants believed that PFAS use in solar energy is likely to occur. When asked about the possible presence at the component level, 54% chose the backplate and 39% chose the solar glass coatings.
“While many experts suspect the involvement of PFAS, there is no clear, shared understanding or publicly accessible knowledge base,” Nain said. “This reveals a significant communication gap: manufacturers can use fluoropolymers they consider low risk, but limited transparency creates uncertainty and potential distrust among stakeholders.”
In conclusion, the researchers say addressing public concerns requires demanding transparency from the PV industry and supporting the use of PFAS-free alternatives. “There is already some promising movement in the right direction: manufacturers obtaining ‘PFAS-free’ certifications, policymakers encouraging PV projects on contaminated land, and researchers providing clear, evidence-based education on this topic,” they said.
The research was presented in “Do solar panels contain PFAS?” published in Perspective.
This content is copyrighted and may not be reused. If you would like to collaborate with us and reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Popular content
