A class of synthetic substances known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are present in a range of renewable energy technologies including lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps, placing them at the center of a dispute over the European Union's proposed broad ban on the chemicals.
Renewable energy technologies rely on PFAS chemicals facing proposed EU ban
A class of synthetic substances known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are present in a range of renewable energy technologies including lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps, placing them at the center of a dispute over the European Union's proposed broad ban on the chemicals.
PFAS is a group of roughly 10,000 synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment and can take thousands of years to degrade. Exposure to certain levels has been linked to increased cancer risk, suppressed immune function, decreased fertility and developmental delays in children, according to the source. Bans on specific PFAS have been enacted in France, New Zealand and Denmark, and the EU is pursuing a broader restriction.
The EU's proposed ban would cover fluoropolymers, a subset of PFAS valued for resistance to extreme temperatures, corrosion and UV degradation. In electric vehicle batteries, binders made with PTFE fluoropolymers — also found in Teflon products — are used to coat dry electrodes for greater energy efficiency.
The European Environment Agency describes fluoropolymers as 'relatively less problematic' than PFAS monomers because their larger molecular size limits uptake into living cells. However, the agency notes that fluoropolymers still degrade over time, raising 'additional environmental and human health concerns.'
PFAS categorized as fluorogases, or F-gases, are used in heat pumps and electric car batteries as well as in refrigerators and air-conditioning units. Although largely non-flammable, F-gases have a global warming potential described as potentially thousands of times higher than carbon dioxide, and can leak through worn seals, improper maintenance and end-of-life disposal.
UK-based advocacy group Chem Trust said in a 2025 report that PFAS-free alternatives are already on the market, including heat pumps using propane as a refrigerant, solar cells produced without fluoropolymers, and PFAS-free polymer paint for wind turbine blades. Lobby group Plastics Europe released a contrasting assessment in May arguing that in many critical uses — including transport, electronics and semiconductors — PFAS-free substitutes are either unavailable or do not meet the necessary criteria to replace fluoropolymers.
- The source does not state the current procedural status or timeline of the EU's proposed PFAS ban.
- The source does not state the specific PFAS concentration levels or exposure thresholds at which health effects are observed.
- The source does not state the scale of PFAS use attributable specifically to renewable energy manufacturing compared to other industries.
- The source does not state the outcome or current status of the Australian government's lawsuit against 3M, beyond noting the suit exceeds $2 billion.
- The source does not state whether the PFAS-free alternatives cited by Chem Trust have been independently verified as performance-equivalent to fluoropolymer-based technologies.
- The source does not state the position of EU regulatory bodies such as the European Chemicals Agency on how to weigh clean energy uses against the proposed ban.
Read the original at Deutsche Welle