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What’s The Carbon Footprint of Solar Panels?

Solar energy is key to helping us fight climate change. This is why global solar electricity generation is expected to ramp up by 145 terawatt-hours (TWh) this year alone, and why the industry has worked so hard to reduce solar panel costs over the past couple of decades.

But are solar panels actually good for the environment, or will this mammoth increase in panels come back to bite us?

In this article, we’ll cover the ‘hidden’ emissions of solar energy, how solar panel disposal can be harmful to both humans and the environment, and whether there’s any improvement on the horizon for the solar industry.

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Solar panels in field

What’s on this page?

Are solar panels actually good for the environment?

Harnessing energy from the sun is one of the most eco-friendly ways to power homes, towns, and cities. And with the cost of solar panels shrinking by over 80% in the past decade, more people can afford this eco-friendly lifestyle.

And according to our latest National Home Energy Survey, 69% of people are likely or very likely to buy or rent a property with solar panels.

However, there are also a handful of factors that can make solar panels bad for the environment, including:

  • Whether any hazardous materials are used to create them
  • Where they’re manufactured
  • How far they need to be shipped
  • How they’re disposed of
  • How they impact land use

What’s the environmental cost of producing solar panels?

There has been a long-standing argument that wind, solar, and nuclear energy have ‘hidden’ carbon footprints – meaning they might not be as eco-friendly as they seem.

This is misleading. Solar panels of course have to be manufactured, which naturally has a carbon cost, but it’s pretty harmless compared to the average emissions of burning oil.

If solar panel owners want to make their panels carbon neutral (meaning they balance out any CO2 they release into the atmosphere by removing the same amount), they’ll need to have their panels for just three years.

After three years of use, solar panels’ overall carbon footprint drops into the negatives, since they’ll have prevented more emissions from being released into the atmosphere than it takes to create them.

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What are the most polluting aspects of solar panels?

Manufacturing process

When it comes to manufacturing solar panels, there’s a vicious circle of emissions. Before we can reduce our carbon footprints with solar energy, factories need to create panels by using a lot of electricity, which is often generated by fossil fuels.

However, let’s not forget that the extraction, transport and processing of fossil fuels also emits CO2.

Depending on where the panels are manufactured, the amount of fossil fuels in the electricity mix will fluctuate. For example, in 2020, the UK’s energy mix was 2.9% coal, whilst 64% of China’s electricity generation came from the stuff.

And since more than 60% of the world’s solar panels are created in China, the majority of the global solar panel supply is emitting a large amount of CO2e before they even start operating.

 

Hazardous materials

There’s a lot of complex science behind solar panels, and to transform sunshine into electricity there need to be a lot of chemicals packed between the glass panels – many of which can be hazardous.

The chemicals used in each panel will depend on the make and model of the cell, but generally, they include copper indium selenide, cadmium gallium selenide, copper indium gallium selenide, hexafluoroethane, and polyvinyl fluoride – a lot of long words that probably won’t mean much to anyone.

Basically, if the solar cells are not disposed of correctly, these chemicals can seep into the ground, contaminating both the soil and drinking water – but again, the same can be said for fossil fuels.

 

Land use

Driving past fields full of panels is now a common sight in most countries – and whilst this is great for the energy sector, landowners, and households, we must be careful with how we use land.

As humanity continues to grow, and we keep expanding ever further into green areas, we have to use water wisely, avoid damaging biodiversity, and ensure we choose low-quality land for our solar farms.

This will leave the most fertile land for growing crops.

Infographic showing the recycling process of solar panels from start to finish

What’s the environmental cost of disposing of solar panels?

In many parts of the world, commercial solar panels only started being rolled out in the late 90s to early 2000s. And, since solar panels have an average life expectancy of 25-30 years, we’re only just starting to see the consequences of solar panel waste.

Back in 2016, it was estimated that there were around 250,000 metric tonnes of solar panel waste globally. Looking forward, this waste is expected to grow to 9.57 million tonnes by 2050.

If left for landfill, some solar panel materials can seep into soil and groundwater, causing health and environmental issues – but there are ways around this.

 

Recycling solar panels

Thankfully, solar panels can be recycled – but it’s pretty difficult to do.

A typical crystalline silicon PV panel is made of materials that can be recycled, including glass, polymer, aluminium, silicon, and copper. If we reuse these elements, we can decrease solar panels’ greenhouse gas emissions by 42%.

Despite this, only a minority of countries currently recycle panels. China, for example, manufactures over half of the world’s solar panels but has no proposals for recycling old cells. The same goes for most of America’s solar panel hotspot areas.

In other areas, such as Australia, there are a number of solar panel recycling services. However, most facilities can only recycle 20% of the panels – the aluminium frame and the terminal boxes.

So far, only European manufacturers are legally required to collect and recycle solar waste.

What’s the environmental benefit of solar panels?

Despite these flaws, solar energy is still one of the best tools we have to tackle climate change.

Fossil fuels are finite – and are rapidly depleting. Solar energy, on the other hand, is renewable and won’t run out any time soon (not for another few billion years, anyway).

As if that wasn’t a big enough reason to make the swap to renewables, solar emissions barely scratch the surface of fossil fuel carbon footprints.

A recent study found that each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated over the lifetime of a solar panel plant has a carbon footprint of 6g of CO2e. Check out how this compares to other energy sources below.

Data from Carbon Brief

As you can see, nuclear and wind perform slightly better than solar – with a carbon footprint of four grams of CO2e per kWh. Unlike fossil fuel sources, nuclear, wind, and solar energy all sit comfortably under the 2050 emissions target.

As well as benefiting whole nations, solar energy can also help the humble homeowner – reducing a home’s carbon footprint by around one tonne of carbon per year, depending on where you live.

wildflowers with solar panels

Is the industry improving?

Good news – solar panels are becoming much more eco-friendly over time.

As technology progresses, we’re seeing more innovation in the solar industry, with experts introducing more sustainable materials. Researchers at the University of Bath recently created a new material named Kesterite, formed from just copper, zinc, tin, and sulphur – elements that are all quite low cost and abundant.

Solar panel recycling schemes are also becoming more popular worldwide – although, this needs to become more common for solar panel top dogs America, China, and Japan. The global solar panel recycling market size is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 12.8% from 2020 to 2027.

Experts are also finding ways to make sure biodiversity continues to thrive in solar farms. Some landowners are introducing pollinator-friendly projects, which place solar panels on raised platforms or stilts to allow extra space for perennial grasses and wildflowers to support local pollinators.

Not only will this help local wildlife, but it can also improve soil health and water quality, and boost agricultural yields of nearby crops.

And the latest research shows that sheep who live in fields with solar panels have healthier lives. They graze more, eat more nutritious food, rest more, and seem to suffer less from heat stress than sheep in nearby fields without panels.

When it comes to water, solar farms use a fraction of the amount that golf courses do – and don't listen to anyone who says they'll cause the downfall of the UK's agricultural output.

Solar farms are almost almost always situated on poorer quality grazing land, so there'll be no large-scale crop destruction here.

Next steps

Solar’s ‘hidden emissions’ are a small price to pay for a greener way of life in the long term.

Plus, as more experts look into sustainable materials, more farmers find ways to share the land with local wildlife, and recycling becomes more commonplace, solar energy will become even better for the environment.

Want to get in on the solar action? You're not alone. Rising energy bills have made 60% of people want to go greener, according to our latest National Home Energy Survey.

Find the best solar panels for your home by using our free comparison tool. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions about your property, and our suppliers will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare.

Written by:
Beth has been writing about green tech, the environment, and climate change for over three years now – with her work being featured in publications such as The BBC, Forbes, The Express, Greenpeace, and in multiple academic journals. Whether you're after a new set of solar panels, energy-saving tips, or advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint, she's got you covered.
Reviewed by:
Charlie has been researching and writing about the home energy market for over five years, and he has been the editor of The Eco Experts since 2021. Charlie's thoughts on solar panels have seen him featured in various publications, including The Times, Ideal Home, and Grand Designs Magazine. Ever since he can remember, Charlie has worried about the planet, and he one day dreams of owning a solar power farm.
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