How green are solar panels?
•
0 likes•60 views
We look into the environmental impact of the manufacturing process in light of lifetime "green" value
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (20)
Similar to How green are solar panels?
Similar to How green are solar panels? (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
How green are solar panels?
- 1. How Green Are Solar Panels? Environmental Costs of the Solar Manufacturing Process pickmysolar.com 888.454.9979 By: Kate Whitney
- 2. 2 A “Clean” Industry? Solar is a great solution for homeowners looking to cut down their environmental impact & their electric bills - but the industry is far from perfect Production of panels requires energy input, generated largely from non-renewable sources Dangerous waste threatens local communities & workers when not properly treated
- 3. 3 The Carbon Cost of Solar
- 4. 4 Carbon emissions can result from solar panel ➔ Manufacturing ➔ Transportation ➔ Installation ➔ Maintenance Emissions vary based on energy source
- 5. 5 Life Cycle Carbon Emissions Pounds of CO2 equivalent per kWh of electricity 5 Coal Natural Gas PV Solar But… ➔ Most solar cells compensate for the energy investment in just 2 years ➔ Lifecycle carbon emissions for solar panels are 95% lower than those for coal
- 6. 6 Total Water Usage Gallons of water per kilowatt-hour 6 Coal Natural Gas PV Solar In addition to a smaller carbon footprint, PV solar panels use 99% less water than coal
- 8. 8 Polysilicon production results in silicon tetrachloride waste, which can produce toxic fumes ➔ Can be recycled, but not all manufacturers invest in the necessary equipment ➔ Can lead to soil acidification & harmful fumes if dumped in environment
- 9. 9 Employees face occupational risks ➔ Mining of quartz to produce silica puts employees at risk of the lung diseases silicosis ➔ Hydrofluoric acid is capable of destroying tissues if not handled properly Worker protection measures are crucial to prevent these risks
- 10. 10 Keeping Score
- 11. 11 75% of name-brand manufacturers self-report data to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition’s annual Solar Scorecard ➔ Ranks manufacturers on emissions, chemical toxicity, water use, and recycling practices ➔ On a mission to promote transparency & create industry-wide standards ➔ Manufacturers SunPower, SolarWorld, and Trina come out on top
- 13. 13 Going solar is a great step toward a greener future, but the industry can continue to improve its practices. As clean energy spreads, more of the energy used to manufacture solar panels themselves will be generated with renewable alternatives, further decreasing life cycle emissions
- 14. 14 What can you do? ➔ Request information from installers regarding the environmental practices of their manufacturers ➔ Support manufacturers that provide transparent data to the Solar Scorecard ➔ Consumer choice will incentivize manufacturers to decrease their environmental impact & be transparent about their practices
- 15. 15 Interested? ➔ Share our infographic on social media ➔ Read our full blog post on the environmental impact of the solar industry here ➔ Check out our free online SolarBook for 60+ educational videos and articles ➔ Search for solar in your area & receive instant cost and savings estimates on our website