Solar energy is an increasingly critical source of renewable power—yet solar panels have proven a sorely unsustainable solution to our world’s growing climate crisis. By 2050, solar energy is projected to generate six million metric tons of e-waste annually, an issue only exasperated by barriers to recycling.
One solar panel currently costs $20-$30 to recycle and requires specialized labor to remove, partly due to its toxic composition (panels are typically comprised of hazardous materials like lead). These limitations shouldn’t raise doubts about pursuing more sustainable forms of energy—but they do highlight the urgent need for innovation.
This notion drives Berkana, a DC-based advisory and investment platform for green energy solutions. Cofounded by MBA alumnus Sergio Pombo in 2015, Berkana channels private equity investments into global projects that pose innovative, sustainable solutions to pervasive environmental problems.