When it comes to energy, we need every source available, including solar. And to make solar panels, we need silver. Silicon wafers coated in silver powder paste start the process for solar generation, and as electricity demand rises, so too will silver demand in photovoltaic technologies.
Hecla Mining is the largest primary silver producer in the U.S., producing 14.2 million ounces of silver in 2022, as well as gold, lead and zinc. Hecla’s work as a primary producer of silver is essential to feed solar panel demand. Moreover, by mining here in the U.S. for over 131 years, Hecla is helping create jobs and ensure that the metals we need are produced in accordance with the world’s leading environmental, labor and safety standards.