Silver and Solar Technology

Silver plays a vital role in the production of solar cells and the transmission of electricity that they produce.

Silver’s use in Photovoltaic (PV) power is the leading current source of green electricity. Higher than expected photovoltaic capacity and faster adoption of new-generation solar cells raised global electrical and electronics demand by a substantial 20 percent in 2023. This gain reflects silver’s essential and growing use in PV, which recorded a record high of 193.5 million ounces last year, increasing by a massive 64 percent over 2022’s figure of 118.1 million ounces.

How is silver used in solar cells? Silver powder is turned into a paste which is then loaded onto a silicon wafer. When light strikes the wafer, electrons are released and the silver – the world’s best conductor – carries the electricity for immediate use or into storage batteries for later consumption.