Sunny Side Up
A glimpse of how tellurium is produced, used, and recycled in CdTe solar panels
Meet the Team
Our RAMP Project
Learn about the technology our team explored and the engineering challenge that shaped our work.
What We Investigated
We researched tellurium, which is integrated into first solar, solar panels to generate electricity. It is interesting because it provides new insights and opportunities for electricity. Renewable energy is going to be crucial for the upcoming years so it is best to learn more about it.
What Made It Complicated?
A challenge that appeared was that tellurium or Te is a byproduct of copper mining/refining process and cannot be mined like any other metal. This makes it difficult to find because not all copper mining/refining processes yield Tellurium as a byproduct. Solar panels also have a long lifetime of about 30 to 40 years. This improves the reliability of this product.
Our Work
Engineering Lifecycle Infographic
Our team investigated part of our product's engineering lifecycle and communicated what we learned through a visual infographic.
Cradle to Cradle
Meet the Engineers
Team Members
Each student brought a different engineering perspective to the team's work during RAMP.
Khyati Vyas
Hi! My name is Khyati Vyas. I am a junior at Chelmsford High School and interested in Astronomy and Aerospace Engineering. I like to draw, paint, and hang out with my friends. My role in RAMP was to do sections of the infographic and collect information for the communication presentation. I learned how to use AI efficiently and a lot about semiconductors. I also had the opportunity to learn effective communication and build connections with companies.
Valentina Quiroa
My name is Valentina and I will be an incoming freshman at UMass Lowell. I will be majoring in Biomedical Engineer due to my interest biology, and my goal to create an invention that will improve the livelihood of others. Throughout this project, my role was to investigate if these solar panels will still be sustainable when the stakes are high. I was able to learn more about the process that goes into making these solar panels, and what happens to them once they are no longer functional.
Nikolas Ogarkov
I am an incoming freshman at UMass Lowell, and I am majoring in engineering because my interest stems from trains, public transport, and ground vehicles. Outside of my studies, I like to draw, play the piano, and listen to youtube documentaries. My contributions to the RAMP project include the graphic design, research about the logistics of the crucial material tellurium, and helping edit our infographic’s writing. I learned a lot not only about the solar panels’ life cycle, but also the intricate process of design, communication, cooperation, and iteration that goes into every engineering project.
Looking Back
What We Learned
When starting our project, we were shocked about how rare tellurium is. At the beginning it was challenging to find the flaws of the First Solar CdTe Panel as it is truly a great invention. A trade-off we had to think about was obtaining the leftover tellurium from the dead solar panels; we would have to wait 30 years to do this. RAMP helped us understand that to be in the engineering field, you need input from all different types of engineers. Being able to stand back up after failing or messing up is the most knowledgeable experience you acquire when being in this field.
Credit & Sources
Acknowledgements & References
Recognize the people who supported your work and document the sources you used to learn about your product, lifecycle stage, and engineering topic.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Azenta Life Sciences for supporting us throughout RAMP. Every week, they came prepared with new information to inform us with. When asked questions about what their day-to-day life looks like as an engineer, they were always more than happy to share what their job consists of in case we were interested in what our futures could look like. We feel very happy to have been able to collaborate with them and truly appreciate their efforts to show up for us.
References & Sources
- Alloy Index. "How Is Tellurium Used in Solar Panels and How Does It Work – Thin Film Materials in 2026." Alloy Index. 2026. alloyindex.com. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.
- Geopolitical Monitor. “Critical Minerals: Global Tellurium Supply and Demand.” Geopolitical Monitor, 2026. geopoliticalmonitor.com. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.
- Ledoux & Company. “How Copper Refining Works: Processes & Techniques.” Ledoux & Company, 2025. ledouxandcompany.com. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.
- Yin, J., et al. “Energy and Tellurium Deposits.” AIMS Geosciences, 2024. sciopen.com. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.