Are Solar Panel Costruction Environmental Firneldy

Photograph by michael melford nat geo image collection how.

Are solar panel costruction environmental firneldy. Bats and birds are killed every year by wind turbines. Solar panels often contain lead cadmium and other toxic chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel. While solar panels are considered a form of clean renewable energy the manufacturing process does produce greenhouse gas emissions. By scott cramer although the use of solar panels is green many solar panel manufacturing processes are not.

However some toxic materials and chemicals are used to make the photovoltaic pv cells that convert sunlight into electricity. Solar panels can take up large chunks of desert previously used by a host of wildlife from pronghorns and tortoises to coyotes and rattlesnakes. To create a solar panel caustic materials will emit greenhouse gases. The solar industry s sheer economic power.

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. Solar and wind energy are often looked at uncritically by environmental proponents. The price of solar panels has fallen over the past decade. Recycling solar panels is still new but more companies are doing it.

The bottom line is. Any type of energy comes with some cost to the environment though and solar and wind energy is no different. Solar s squeaky clean reputation as a reliable renewable energy source. However solar panels are not emitting toxins into the atmosphere as they re generating electricity.

Approximately 90 of most pv modules are made up of glass. While we admit that solar energy isn t perfect we do believe the green energy source has the power to transform the energy industry. In the worst case solar panels have an energy payback time of 4 1 years and will generate 8 to 12 times as much energy in their lifetime than was needed to mine the raw materials manufacture and install them. Additionally to produce solar panels manufacturers need to handle toxic chemicals.

Yes solar panels are environmentally friendly. Another real concern is the vast increase in the use of nitrogen trifluoride nf3 in the construction of solar panels up 1 057 percent over the past 25 years. Solar energy systems power plants do not produce air pollution water pollution or greenhouse gases. That said it s not uncommon to hear people claim solar energy isn t as environmentally friendly as it is presented to be.