Environmenal Impact Of Making Solar Panels

Fabricating the panels requires caustic chemicals such as sodium hydroxide and hydrofluoric acid and the process uses water as well as electricity the production of which emits greenhouse gases.

Environmenal impact of making solar panels.

New technologies are making solar equipment less cost intensive to keep running efficiently. Currently solar power represents only 1 8 percent of energy used in the united states so there is a great deal of room for improvement. Solar panels often contain lead cadmium and other toxic chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel. This might not be an issue in some places but in arid locations such as deserts it can become a major problem.

Solar energy is associated with lower maintenance costs than non renewable energy sources. The reduced emissions from using solarenergy versus any fossil fuel especially coal make the technology extremely beneficial. A water supply installed as part of a solar panel installation. But as critics are quick to point out that rosy picture isn t entirely true.

It also doesn t waste any water where traditional electricity processes can consume thousands of litres annually. The process starts with mining of quartz sand. However solar panels aren t zero emissions resources for their entire lifetime as they have to be manufactured in a factory first as well as recycled at the end of their useful life. While the extraction of various fossil fuels can affect groundwater marine habitats rivers and lakes sometimes in disastrous ways solar doesn t have this impact.

Solar doesn t result in water pollution. Even considering the manufacturing and processing stage of solar the emissions generated are 3x to 25x less than generating the same amount of energy from fossil fuels. Using solar energy can have a positive indirect effect on the environment when solar energy replaces or reduces the use of other energy sources that have larger effects on the environment. An oxidized form of silicon non crystallized silica is the most common component of quartz sand.

Water consumption can have even more environmental impacts. Solar panels produce zero emissions once installed on your roof which means their environmental impact is negligible for most of their life. However some toxic materials and chemicals are used to make the photovoltaic pv cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The impact of this is a reduction in the availability of fresh water.

Solar energy comes with its own environmental challenges regarding land use water consumption emissions and the use of hazardous materials.