Slag to solar - new technology will change the face of Greenwood

By Mona Mattei

Someone may have found the magic key to making solar panels from mining slag. Transforming the left-overs from the hundred-year-old waste will be a godsend to Greenwood, not just to eliminate the eyesore slag pile, but finally creating jobs.

 

A crowd of over 80 came out to hear the news delivered by Joe Falkowsky, a resident of Greenwood since the days when the mine was still operating and current owner of the pile along with the City of Greenwood. Falkowsky’s company, Greenwood Solar Systems BC Ltd. has worked with a California-based scientific company to develop a process to extract metals from the slag. The truly unique part of this process is that once metals are gone, the remaining minerals are perfect for making solar panels.

 

“We’re now ready to go into pounds – what you would call a pilot plant. We want to begin safely and make sure that what worked in the ounces size works in the larger amounts. We’ve worked in grams and ounces trying to untangle that slag,” said Falkowsky. “And we’ve done it! We really have. Nobody else on earth has what we have and there is a value to that slag.”

 

Accessing patents for solar panels that have been on hold since the early 1980’s, Falkowsky and his partner company Recovery Technologies International are moving into the second phase of research and development, testing the experiments previously done on small quantities of slag. This next phase will be testing larger volumes to replicate their earlier results.

 

Anita Langley, director of operations for RTI, said that they are confident that the results will be positive and they will soon be building superior photo voltaic solar panels right in Greenwood.

 

“Our objective in the long-term is to create cost efficient solar technologies that are easily implemented in small towns, rural areas and eventually adapt those so that individuals can purchase these for their homes,” said Langley. “There’s a lot more capacity to be pulled out of the sun than what’s currently being drawn out by solar technology.”

 

With a $1 million dollar investment nearly secured, Langley said they will build two facilities – the first to process the slag and break it down into its components including silver, gold, and platinum, and the second to build the solar panels.

 

Locals raised concerns over the potential dust from breaking up and loading the slag and possible noise levels.

 

Langley and Falkowsky assured the audience that they have considered the implications and are prepared to ensure that there are no problems. Wind barriers, water control and strategic digging of the pit will be some of the ways they intend to mitigate any problems.

 

The company foresees up to 200 new jobs in the city, more workers than the small area can provide. The city benefits will include profits from the use of the slag, and the installation of solar power panels to provide power to their current grid.

 

The meeting took place at McArthur Centre in Greenwood on Tuesday, Oct. 26