Energy from solar panels is a clean, renewable source of electricity that does not burn fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases into the environment.
When assessing the environmental impact of solar panels, there are numerous elements to take into account. One such factor is their carbon footprint during production.
Production of Solar Panels
Solar panels are composed of several elements, such as a frame, cells, backsheet, protective film, conductors and tempered glass covering.
All of these materials require energy to produce and transport to a manufacturing facility, creating an energy debt which can accumulate rapidly over time.
Solar panels manufactured in factories that use renewable resources significantly reduce their carbon footprint, as the raw resources come from sustainable sources rather than fossil fuels like coal or natural gas.
On the contrary, coal has a much greater carbon footprint due to mining, transportation and combustion. In fact, coal-powered electricity produces 24g of CO2 per kWh while solar generates around 50g per kilowatt hour during its initial years of operation.
Use of Solar Panels
Solar energy is a clean and renewable source of electricity that can help you reduce your carbon footprint. It produces less life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than natural gas, coal, or petroleum-based sources do, meaning it has less of an effect on climate change.
Solar power is also more cost-effective than other forms of green energy, offering you a significant reduction in your electricity bill and helping you avoid expensive and polluting fossil fuels.
With solar panels on a standard tariff, their life-cycle emissions will be offset over time; depending on your energy mix, this could take two to three years before they achieve carbon neutrality.
The only drawback to using solar panels is that you’ll generate some CO2 from their production. However, you can offset this with tree planting carbon offsetting programs from reputable companies.
Recycling
Solar panels are an integral component of the renewable energy sector. Each year, they generate enough electricity to supply nearly 3% of Earth’s population with light.
However, there are numerous things to take into account when it comes to their end of life. One major question is how best to recycle them.
Recycling is a method that transforms used materials into new products, saving energy and natural resources in the process. There are various processes available for this purpose.
Recycling common materials such as plastics, glasses, metals, paper and electronics is a popular practice.
Recycling solar panels is just one of the many ways to promote waste reduction and environmental sustainability. Recycling solar panels could be a significant step towards that end goal.
End-of-Life
Solar panels are safe to use and do not contribute air emissions, yet they still generate waste that needs recycling or disposal. Therefore, it’s essential to consider your PV panel’s end-of-life (EoL) management when planning its disposal or recycling strategy.
IRENA estimates that by 2050, there will be up to 78 million tons of solar panel waste worldwide. This staggering volume of trash must be responsibly managed and recycled; yet it also presents an incredible chance to salvage valuable materials from the waste stream.
Australia currently has several solar panel recycling schemes in place for other products, but it remains uncertain if there will be a similar national policy when solar panels reach their end of life. Nonetheless, there have been recent efforts made to reduce landfill accumulation and maximize resource recovery from these materials.