This statement from the Journalist quoted in the opening post is very misleading for those not technically literate - [This new factory is setting world records as it pumps out solar panels made from copper instead of silver.]
Facts are that most existing panel makers only use a micro quantum of silver to connect the solar cells to the panel copper wiring (silver does have slightly superior electrical conductive properties compared to copper) These existing panel makers already use vastly more copper than silver in making their panels - so the increase in copper use compared to - shall we say - the "Old" panels is tiny - Sometime in the future somebody in this mucho hyped "new panel factory" might discover "hey people - silver conducts slightly better than copper" -
