Carbon and solar energy

There is a galaxy of reasons why people are considering installing a solar power system. The global compensation is significant over the years because it is extremely important that the world stop polluting the planet as soon as possible. There is no other action that can currently be taken that helps the earth more than installing solar panels.

Solar energy represents a win-win situation for most applications. in addition to its significant financial benefits, installing solar is also important for the environment. When your solar panels generate electricity, they produce zero emissions, which means they don’t contribute to climate change or negative health consequences like traditional sources of energy. They also draw their energy from the sun, a perpetual resource that will be available across the world for the foreseeable future.

Solar panels generate no emissions

Solar panels produce no emissions when installed on your roof, which means their environmental impact is negligible. However, solar panels aren’t zero-emissions for their entire lifetime – as they have to be made in a factory first, as well as recycled at the end of their useful life. These two modes are where solar actually has an environmental impact. Many researchers frame the environmental impact of solar energy with the theory of energy payback time or EPBT. The EPBT reports how long it will take for solar panels to generate enough clean electricity to “pay back” the energy used to produce them. This calculation differs depending on a few factors: The productivity of your solar panels. If you live in an area that has lots of sunlight, and your solar panels are very efficient, then your system will create more electricity and have a shorter EPBT. Rainy days, haze, pollution and other factors reduce the efficiency of solar energy generation.  Some solar panels need more energy to produce than others. For example, thin-film modules have a scantier footprint than silicon modules, because less energy is needed to manufacture them. Solar panels have to be conveyed from where they were made to where they will be installed. If your solar panels were manufactured in Europe or Asia but installed in the U.S. then they had to be transported further, requiring more energy usage and thus increasing their EPBT.

Environmental impact of solar energy is hard to calculate

The good news is that, while the EPBT of a solar panel is conditioned by many factors, the market is moving in the right direction. In 1970, the average energy payback time for solar panels was 40 years. By 2010, that number had fallen to just six months.

As the solar industry evolves, manufacturers are regularly looking for ways to make solar panels more efficiently, which means that solar’s EPBT will continue to decline. For example, in the past ten years, there has been a 62 percent decrease in the amount of material used for silicon cells, thanks to increased efficiency and leaner designs. This decrease means that less energy is spent processing silicon during the production process. As more solar panels are retired, recycling them will become more cost-effective and efficient too, further diminishing their EPBT.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system! These days, investing in a solar energy system is just plain smart investing. Plus, you will get the thrill of generating your own electricity! You can do your part to lower your carbon footprint by installing your own solar energy system. Imagine generating your own power!

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.

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