Are Solar Panels Bad For The Environment

Environmental scientists and solar industry leaders are raising the red flag about used solar panels which contain toxic heavy metals and are considered hazardous waste.

Are solar panels bad for the environment.

It produces vast quantities of hazardous waste which are not being adequately dealt with. With recycling expensive. The need for it however is also unlikely. While solar panels are considered a form of clean renewable energy the manufacturing process does produce greenhouse gas emissions.

Workers install solar panels in california. Solar panels are strong enough to withstand the elements and rarely face damage. 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. Solar energy comes with its own environmental challenges regarding land use water consumption emissions and the use of hazardous materials.

Since solar panels are growing in popularity recycling programs as well as companies are expected to be more prominent in the future than they are currently. However it features some downsides as well. Solar panels are highly essential when it comes to curbing carbon footprint. Let s shine a light on those environmental impacts and determine if the good outweighs the bad when it comes to solar energy and the environment.

However some toxic materials and chemicals are used to make the photovoltaic pv cells that convert sunlight into electricity. As for any toxic leaks as a result of broken panels the chain of command is unclear. Although solar energy is a clean alternative to fossil fuels making the panels themselves can have a negative environmental impact. At forbes michael shellenberger highlights another problem with solar energy.

Solar panels impact on the environment. Without efficiency and reasonable limits to energy use solar and wind power only benefit the environment so much. Additionally to produce solar panels manufacturers need to handle toxic chemicals. Solar panels can take up large chunks of desert previously used by a host of wildlife from pronghorns and tortoises to coyotes and rattlesnakes.

In may 2018 michael shellenberger a time magazine hero of the environment and green book award winner wrote in forbes that the problem of solar panel disposal will explode with full force in two or three decades and wreck the environment because it is a huge amount of waste which is not easy to recycle. There is still an initial input of resources to create wind turbines and solar panels. Jenna is a writer covering the environment and energy industry.