The Impact Of Making Solar Panels

Most people overlook the impact that the materials they are made from can have on the environment.

The impact of making solar panels.

Solar energy systems power plants do not produce air pollution water pollution or greenhouse gases. 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. 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. It also means less exacerbated greenhouse effect slowing the effects of climate change.

Although materials do vary between different types and brands of solar panels most contain toxic materials somewhere in their design. Solar panels produce zero emissions once installed on your roof which means their environmental impact is negligible for most of their life. More solar means a reduction of toxins in the air causing health problems from asthma to headaches to cancer. Solar panels often contain lead cadmium and other toxic chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel.

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. The potential environmental impacts associated with solar power land use and habitat loss water use and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing can vary greatly depending on the technology which includes two broad categories. Materials including lead and cadmium are examples of such materials found in manufacturing processes.