What is the real impact of solar panels on the environment?

 

The constantly evolving solar power industry is changing the way we produce electricity, for the better. As an efficient option for consumers to make the switch to renewable sources, it has gained an appreciation and has been accepted into communities all over the globe. However, with this popularity, there is also speculation about just how sustainably efficient solar power systems really are. There are positive as well as negative arguments about this ‘green’ source of electricity and both perspectives do have validity. So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons when it comes to the environmental impact of solar panels.

Let’s begin with the little-known negative impacts that the use of solar panels and the construction of solar power systems can have on the environment. Like every other type of infrastructure, solar panels do have their downside. A majority of it comes down to the materials and the manufacturing process of creating solar panels. This negative impact can be tracked to 3 major areas.

1. Energy consumption

While solar panels are a renewable source of energy, they are not completely free of any negative impact. The manufacturing of solar panels involves the use of a significant amount of energy. This is majorly evident in the mining aspect for materials used including quartz (processed into silicon), aluminum, and copper or silver, etc. A variety of not very environmentally friendly materials and processes are required to create the components of a single solar module. Quartz also needs to be processed under very high heat which further consumes energy.

2. Disposal of chemicals

This process of heating the quartz in a high-temperature furnace also includes reacting it with various chemicals. Similarly, other processes for solar modules tend to make use of or develop hazardous chemicals. The negative environmental impact, in this case, takes place if these chemicals are not disposed of properly. Like any other industry, this lies in the hands of the manufacturers where certain companies are not concerned about the impact on the environment while others are leading the path towards sustainability.

3. Recycling old panels

At this stage of the evolution of solar panels, there are still modules that might need replacement at later stages. Since a majority of all solar panels are new, the problem of how to recycle old modules will emerge in the coming decades. These discarded solar modules come in the category of e-waste. This means that countries and communities that are able to provide a robust system to recycle e-waste are better off while other ones are at high risk of negatively impacting the environment.

All of these problems can be tackled with the innovation of alternative manufacturing and the standardization of robust, sustainable processing systems.

Meanwhile, the benefits of switching to solar power systems are unmistakable in the current environment. Unlike any other form of power generation, solar power contributes to no air or carbon pollution, emits no ash or other waste products, and requires only sunlight as a source. In fact, the switch to solar panels for electricity is capable of improving the environmental impacts of the businesses, communities, and homeowners that utilize it while also being a cost-effective solution for these users.

There is also constant progress in the solar industry with innovative and technological advancements, making this electrical source more broadly available and more affordable to diverse economic backgrounds.

Rooftop solar EPC has seen a reduction in different aspects of pricing because of the growing networks of solar installers and financial partners interested in embracing this effective resource. Organizations have utilized rooftop solar systems to reduce their operating costs while homeowners embrace reducing their carbon footprint at minimal costs. There are also third-party ownership options where customers pay little to nothing upfront under solar leases or power purchase agreements to get electricity over a long period at attractive fixed rates.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on November 15, 2021.