The use of PV technology in ordinary consumer products, however, is not covered under the ban.
Justifying the move, the Directive stated: Photovoltaic solar panels need to be specifically exempted in order to allow the long-term development of this technology, whose benefits for the environment are significant. The growth of this technology will be crucial to helping the EU attain its renewable energy targets for 2020.
It continued: The wording of this amendment draws a clear distinction with the use of photovoltaic solar technology in ordinary consumer products, which will not be covered by this exception.
According to the amended directive, the European Union will not prohibit cadmium in the RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment). The move comes after it was agreed that the development of renewable energy technologies, which present no danger to the environment and are sustainable and economically viable, should be exempted from the Directives scope. PV solar panels fall into this category.
The revision of the RoHS Directive should be coherent with the EUs climate change objectives and should allow the development of sustainable, economically viable forms of energy, said the Directive. It is therefore essential to allow specific exemptions from the scope of this Directive in order to help the EU attain its broader objectives as regards environmental protection, security of energy supply and combating climate change.
The photovoltaic industry is typified by innovations. Predictability in terms of future planning is necessary to ensure the further development of such innovations, which contribute significantly to environmental protection, job creation and economic development.
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