Nature knows best, and in the case for natural solutions when it comes to solving problems, you can chalk up another point of Gaia this time around, as it concerns the manufacturing of solar panels. Solar panels are not cheap to make, and neither is the process environmentally-friendly to boot. After all, solar cells rely on an extremely toxic and expensive substance known as cadmium chloride, but all of that could change in the future as magnesium chloride, a chemical used to make tofu and bath salts, might be a viable replacement.
This particular use for magnesium chloride was stumbled upon by a University of Liverpool researcher, having extracted it directly from seawater, and is a whole lot more affordable, too. We are talking about it costing just $0.001 per gram compared to $0.30, and it does not lose an ounce of effectiveness against cadmium chloride in tests, making it an extremely viable alternative. Interestingly enough, magnesium chloride has also seen action in products like tofu, bath salts and is used to de-ice roads.
Imagine replacing the toxic cadmium chloride with a naturally occurring substance, that will not only help save a whole lot of money in the long run, making solar power a far more viable alternative, not to mention keeping the earth away from such toxic materials. Truly, this is a win-win situation that is worth exploring. [Press Release]
Filed in . Read more about Solar.