Greenhouse gases and solar energy

The world is quickly installing solar energy systems and greenhouse gas emissions are a big part of the reason. But due to falling prices for solar panels, an increasing number of homes and businesses are getting on the solar train. The world no longer has a choice. Fossil fuels are finite and scheduled to last perhaps another fifty years. What do we do then if we haven’t sufficiently switched to renewable energy sources? Transformation to wind and solar could be achieved with low indirect greenhouse gas emissions. Jobs in the clean energy sector are growing rapidly and technological advances promise more “green” jobs in the future as new methods and materials are discovered.
“Both fossil and non-fossil power technologies still come with a certain amount of greenhouse gas emissions within their life cycle – on the one hand, because it needs the energy to construct and operate them, on the other hand, because of methane emissions, e.g. from coal and gas production,” explains lead author Michaja Pehl. “However, we found there are substantive differences across technologies regarding their greenhouse gas balance. Electricity production from biomass, coal, gas, and hydropower induces much higher indirect greenhouse gas emissions than nuclear electricity, or wind and solar-based power supply.

Analyzing energy usage

With their study, the researchers provide a comprehensive global analysis of energy use and indirect greenhouse gas emissions – from all power sector technologies. Their study combines the strengths of simulations based on integrated energy-economy-climate models that estimate cost-optimal long-term strategies to meet climate goals with life cycle assessment approaches. Up to now, these research branches have operated separately. Exploring the life cycle emissions of future low-carbon supply systems and the implications for technology choices, they found that fossil power plants equipped with CCS will still account for life-cycle emissions of around 100 grams of CO2-equivalents per kWh of electricity produced, ten times more than the around 10 grams of CO2-equivalents for wind and solar power they project for 2050 in a climate protection scenario in which power production is almost completely decarbonized.

Solar panels have never been more affordable

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.