Silver’s use in photovoltaics Photovoltaic (PV) power is the leading current source of green electricity. Higher than expected photovoltaic capacity additions and faster adoption of new-generation solar cells raised global electrical & electronics demand by a substantial 20 percent in 2023. This gain reflects silver’s essential and growing use in PV, which recorded a new high of 193.5 Moz last year, increasing by a massive 64 percent over 2022’s figure of 118.1 Moz.
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 silicon, electrons are set free and the silver – the world’s best conductor – carries the electricity for immediate use or stores it in batteries for later consumption.
