With climate change becoming an increasingly urgent issue, there has been a global push to find alternate energy sources to fossil fuels. Many have turned to solar energy as a possible solution. Solar fields have become a more common sight, and many people have had solar panels installed on their own property to generate energy.
Solar panels offer a source of renewable, alternate energy to fossil fuels. However, there are some negative environmental, health, and safety effects of solar panels that tend to be overlooked, including in the process of manufacturing and disposing or recycling solar panels. The benefits of lowering the use of fossil fuels outway these negative effects. Read on to learn more about the downside of solar panels.
Producing Solar Panels Uses Hazardous Materials
There are PV solar panels and CSP types of solar technology. Solar panels on residential roofs or properties are PV. CSP is used in large-scale solar energy and will not be found in a residential setting.
Several toxic materials are used in the manufacturing of solar panels, which can be very harmful to humans if they are exposed to them. Lead and cadmium are also contained in solar panels. Rainwater has been shown to cause cadmium from solar panels to escape, causing the potential for the substance to seep into the soil.
In the US, there are laws to prevent harm when making solar panels. There are also financial incentives for the proper disposal or recycling of hazardous materials. If the materials used in creating solar panels are not properly disposed of, they could harm the environment and humans.
Land Use of Solar Panels and Fields Can Hurt the Environment
In terms of solar fields and large-scale solar power, the amount of land required for these operations can have negative environmental effects and adverse effects on wildlife. Solar fields negatively affect the environment in the following ways:
- The removal of plants to make room for solar fields can negatively impact soil quality.
- Large amounts of land are usually needed for solar fields, leaving less for agriculture and other natural uses.
- Solar fields can disrupt the natural habitats of animals.
- Solar fields might even directly kill birds if they utilize concentrated light.
Additionally, solar panels that no longer work and go into landfills can release toxic chemicals into the soil, leading to further health and safety risks long-term.
Solar Energy Requires a Lot of Water
Water is not required for PV cells to work, but for CSP, water is needed for cooling purposes. In fact, CSP plants can use hundreds of gallons of water in the process of converting sun rays into usable energy.
The production of PV cells requires the use of water, as well. That, combined with the energy required to make solar panels themselves, makes them less environmentally friendly to make. It can also have a greater impact on the local environment where the panels are installed.
Solar Panel Manufacturing Releases Greenhouse Gases
There have been studies on the potential of solar panels to create pollution. While they do not produce any significant pollution once they are made and installed, manufacturing solar panels creates dangerous byproducts.
Manufacturing solar panels, particularly PV cells, uses a chemical called nitrogen trifluoride, or NF3. NF3, a greenhouse gas, is thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. It is used because it is very efficient at trapping energy and is not produced in large amounts, but it is seen as a serious potential problem for the climate.
Solar Panels Produce More Toxic Waste Than Nuclear Power Plants
The toxic waste produced by solar panels is an often-overlooked problem. However, it is a significant issue that increases as more solar panels and solar energy are used. Some of the reasons for this are:
- Compared to nuclear power plants, solar panels create hundreds of times more toxic waste.
- The hazardous chemicals contained in solar panels cannot be removed without deconstructing the whole panel, causing many of them to end up in landfills where those chemicals can escape into the soil.
- The process of taking apart solar panels is expensive and not risk-free, and they are difficult to recycle.
Because of these reasons, solar panels that have reached the end of their useful life have been an increasing problem for both the environment and public safety.
Solar Panels Pose A Fire Risk
As with other, more conventional sources of electricity, solar panels do have the potential to start fires. The biggest fire risk is usually seen in poorly-installed panels, old units, faulty wiring, or poor insulation. And, because fires caused by PV units are different from traditional electrical fires, there are risks to those putting out the fires, too.
The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors explains that PV systems can be a hazard to firefighters that are not aware they have been installed in a home. They can produce live wires even after the main power has been shut off, can release toxic chemicals in a fire, can prevent access to areas, and even cause roof collapses.
The Efficiency of Solar Panels is Low
Only about 18% of sunlight absorbed by solar panels is actually converted into energy. Factors such as the age of the panels, cleanliness and maintenance, and sun exposure also affect the efficiency of solar panels. Older solar panels and those that are not cleaned and maintained regularly are less effective.
Because of the low efficiency of solar panels, more of them are required to generate a sufficient amount of energy. This leads to even more land use and the risks associated with the manufacturing of solar panels.
Solar Power Is Not Very Reliable
Solar power is not a very reliable source of energy for several reasons, including:
- The inefficiency of solar power means it cannot meet the electrical energy demand our world faces.
- Sunlight has limited daily ability, lowering the amount of energy generated by solar panels.
- Solar power cannot be used as a backup source of electricity. If there is a blackout, solar energy will cease to work.
For solar panels to be useful and cost-efficient, they must be installed properly and in a good location. Even then, they usually only provide for some energy needs, so other sources of energy are also required.
Solar Panels Have a Relatively Short Lifespan
Most solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, though some built more recently claim to last up to 50 years. The rate at which solar panels degrade and become less effective also depends on when they were made, though all solar panels have reduced efficacy every year after they are made.
The lifespan of solar panels also ties into the toxic waste they produce once they have reached the end of their useful lives. More solar panels have been installed in the US in the last five years than ever, and when those panels are no longer able to be used, they will likely cause a major toxic waste problem.
Solar Panels Are Expensive
Solar panels are not exactly new technology, and there has been a huge increase in the use of solar energy in the last several years. However, the cost of a useful solar panel system is still pretty steep.
Installing a 10kW grid solar system on a residential property can cost up to $35,000, depending on where you live. The average cost nationally in the US to install a solar panel system is about $24,000. The amount of time it takes for solar panels to pay for themselves varies, but it can take up to 20 years.
Sources:
https://education.seattlepi.com/environmental-health-concerns-solar-power-6281.html
https://www.nachi.org/solar-panel-fire-electrical-hazards.htm