Are solar panels tame or toxic?
As the need for renewable energy resources increases, the debate over environmental impacts also continues. One of the most contested questions concerns solar panels: tame or toxic?
When you use solar electricity, you can reduce or eliminate your reliance on coal-based power. In that regard, solar panels have a zero carbon footprint. But photovoltaic (PV) solar modules could still be harmful to the environment.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has calculated that the average PV polycrystalline module will generate enough clean solar power in about four years to offset the energy required to manufacture it. In fact, over the 30 year life expectancy of a solar module, about 90% of the energy generated will be pollution free.
But what about the materials that go into solar panels? PV modules use silicon, which is abundant and easy to harvest from the Earth’s surface. Minimal environmental impacts result from this process, but when silicon is purified and crystallized, energy is required. Also, cutting the wafers, processing them into cells and assembling solar panels is energy-intensive. At this point, solar cells are not recyclable, but the industry is working to change that in the near future.
Beyond the energy required to create solar panels, chemicals used in manufacturing are handled and disposed of in accordance with EPA regulations. Overall, solar manufacturers have worked to make production safer.
Remember that reliance on solar power is cleaner than other types of electricity. Residential solar panel systems generally save the equivalent of 12 barrels of oil per year, per home. If you could reduce your carbon footprint by 10,000 pounds annually, or drive your car 7,000 fewer miles, wouldn’t you do so?
Tags: environmental solar, save energy, solar energy, solar environmental impacts, Solar Panels, solar power, toxic solar
