Solar energy research team aims for a safer future for solar panels and groundwater
Researchers from Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science have received a $254,737 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the stability and long-term environmental impacts of solar cells.
The study, led by Assistant Professor Yuxin Wang of the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering, focuses on the contamination risk of lead used between solar cells – a concern for groundwater safety and public health.
“New York State is pursuing unique solar energy production in the future, and we do not want to sacrifice the environment with lead as a substitute for the harmful effects of carbon emissions,” Wang said.
The program will test perovskite solar cells as a more sustainable replacement for conventional silicon cells. Professor Tara Dhakal from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has spent the past decade developing perovskite technology, which reduces lead content by 85 percent while maintaining the necessary electrical conductivity. “Solar cells are being deployed more widely outdoors, so we need to think about how we ensure end-of-use,” said Dhakal. “We want to make sure we recycle the precious metals. While the panels will last 20 or 25 years, we want to make sure we encapsulate them properly so that nothing is released.”
To measure longevity, Professor Shuxia ‘Susan’ Lu will conduct accelerated life tests, simulating two to three decades of use within a few weeks or months. “The life expectancy of a solar panel is 20 to 30 years, but we will accelerate it to a few weeks/months and see if any pollutants leak out,” Wang said.
Industry partners include HB Fuller, which provides adhesive encapsulation for environmental protection, and Avangrid, the parent company of NYSEG. The team will share findings on practical improvements in the way panels are sealed and recycled.
The project also calls for AI-powered drone inspection of solar farms. Associate Professor Yong Wang is leading the development of autonomous drones equipped with advanced thermal imaging cameras, aiming for 95 percent fault detection and rapid inspection of vast solar installations. “The large solar farms can be hundreds of hectares in size, and if you have to do the inspection manually, it’s very, very time consuming,” he said. “If you use a drone to fly high in the sky based on a route that can be automatically planned, you can cover the entire farm in 30 minutes or less.”
