Solar power is very effective at carbon mitigation. As with all technologies, the unintended waste or by-products is something that must be dealt with.

Solar panels also use an immense amount of coal in production. This means that as PV panel production increases, so does coal mining and our carbon footprint.

It takes 1 ton of coal to manufacture every residential PV array.

Because some countries like United States gets most PV panels from overseas, we seem to think we can ignore this problem. This is one of the worst cases of greenwashing in the renewable energy sector.

Some types of PV cell technologies use heavy metals, and these types of cells and PV panels may require special handling when they reach the end of their useful life. Some solar thermal systems use potentially hazardous fluids to transfer heat, and leaks of these materials could be harmful to the environment

Although solar panel recycling has not become a major issue yet, it will in the coming decades as solar panels need to be replaced. Currently, solar modules can be disposed of with other standard e-waste. Countries without robust e-waste disposal means are at a higher risk of recycling related issues.

Lithium extraction uses a lot of water – approximately 500,000 gallons per tonne of lithium. In Chile’s Salar de Atacama, mining activities consumed 65 per cent of the region’s water.

Lithium extraction inevitably harms the soil and causes air contamination.

As the world scrambles to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, the environmental impact of finding all the lithium required to enable that transformation could become a serious issue in its own right. Are we not transferring the pollutants from air to alnd through solar SPVs and lithium battery disposal?  Is this a green solution or is it a narrative?

PROBLEMS WITH SOLAR ENERGY

The environmental cons of solar panels are land and water use, pollution, habitat loss, and the use of highly hazardous materials in the manufacturing process that create toxic waste.

The land use by solar fields can be massive, and unlike wind power, sharing the land for agricultural use is not an option.

Solar power systems also affect land use when it comes to mining and the production of materials needed to produce photovoltaics.

Mining creates land and air pollution, burns fossil fuels for mining, transportation, and refining of minerals, and often creates water pollution as well.

It also strips away land creating environmental degradation – mainly human-caused erosion.

Solar Panel Production Uses Fossil Fuels

Solar panels also use an immense amount of coal in production. This means that as PV panel production increases, so does coal mining and our carbon footprint.

It takes 1 ton of coal to manufacture every residential PV array.

Because the United States gets most PV panels from overseas, we seem to think we can ignore this problem. This is one of the worst cases of greenwashing in the renewable energy sector.

Some types of PV cell technologies use heavy metals, and these types of cells and PV panels may require special handling when they reach the end of their useful life. Some solar thermal systems use potentially hazardous fluids to transfer heat, and leaks of these materials could be harmful to the environment

Chemicals – To produce solar-grade silicon, semi-conductor processing typically involves hazardous chemicals.  Depending on the solar panel manufacturer and country of origin, these chemicals may or may not be disposed properly.  Like every industry, there are companies leading by example, and others which cut corners to save cash.  Not every company will dump chemicals, or won’t recycle their byproducts properly, but there are bad apples out there.

Recycling – What happens when solar panels break or are decommissioned?  Although solar panel recycling has not become a major issue yet, it will in the coming decades as solar panels need to be replaced. Currently, solar modules can be disposed of with other standard e-waste. Countries without robust e-waste disposal means are at a higher risk of recycling related issues.

These are the major environmental concerns surrounding the PV industry.  The fear is certainly cause for further investigation but may be unfounded according to the numbers.

Chemicals, Recycling and Disposal of Solar Panels

Recycling and disposal of solar panels is a key area of concern. There is a clear problem with solutions on the horizon.

This is not as widespread or toxic as it may seem though. Standard solar modules’ silicon wafers are encapsulated, commonly by ethyly vinyl acetate (EVA). This layer protects the silicon wafer. If modules are not disposed of properly and exposed to specific test conditions is it possible some leaching may occur. Under normal operating conditions these materials will not be released.