When I ever come across renewable energy articles, products, statements I inherently focus on all the positives there are surrounding using renewable energy.
For the last several years, the price of solar has come down, the availability has become widespread and the collective movement of using renewable energy sources as a primary source of power has become more mainstream.
But as I focus on all the positives, I forget that solar power isn’t all kittens and rainbows. There are downsides to solar energy. It would be dismissive to only focus on the pros. So, in this article, I want to discuss why solar does have some downsides.
Keep in mind this post in no way is deter people from supporting or using solar power as a renewable energy source. I just don’t want to turn a blind eye to the cons of solar energy.
I firmly believe that it’s important to be able to see both sides of a debate. And while this isn’t a debate, being able to see the total picture allows you to fully understand the pros and cons of using solar power.
The Waste of Solar Power Manufacturing
As you probably know there are a ton of advantages of solar power, and that is why it’s become such a central source of power to help fight global warming, climate change, and reducing our carbon footprint.
That being said, let’s discuss the waste that comes along with solar, particularly the solar panels themselves.
It’s probably no secret that during just about any production of a product there is going to be some waste associated. However, the amount of waste doesn’t outweigh the beneficial use of that product. If you’re making a product and the waste exceeds the value of the product, you would simply stop producing the product.
When it comes to solar panels the average useful life of those solar panels is about 25-30 years. After their useful life, the solar panels have to go somewhere. This isn’t a big deal except there are toxic metals contained within the solar panels. Meaning if you throw them in the trash these toxic metals could likely leak out and be absorbed into the soil below.
While the Earth does do a great job of naturally filtering liquids before it goes into the water cycle, anytime you’re leaking toxic metals into the ground, it can affect surface water and groundwater. While most drinking water treatment facilities can filter out a lot of toxic material, it’s just better to stop the leak beforehand.
What are Solar Panels Made Of?
Solar panels are primarily made of silicon. And this is good because silicon is a very abundant source on the planet. This means that raw material is very cheap, which helps keep the cost down. The key to having highly efficient solar panels is very pure silicon. This is where the not so friendly environmentally aspect is introduced. To ensure the silicon is of the highest quality.
Normal silicon is recyclable but after the lead and cadmium are introduced (to make the solar panels highly efficient) the solar panels are now not as recyclable. The amount of time, energy, and cost to extract these hazardous materials often cost more than the actual production of the solar panel.
To avoid this extra cost of extracting harmful metals, it’s very convenient for companies to just dump solar panels into landfills. Hopefully, the landfills have proper barriers between the toxic material and the soil, but this isn’t a guarantee.
This is especially true if used solar panels are shipped to other countries where it’s highly likely they just take the disposal payment and drop them in landfills with no regard for leakage.
As solar panels become cheaper and more consumers use them, this can become a big issue. The start of the solar panel revolution was about 20 years ago, so as the useful life ends here in the next few years, this will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
It’s not only a problem of horrible waste, but it can become a contamination problem for both soil and water.
Along with the toxic metals solar panel take up a bunch of open space. The land use by solar fields can be massive which means it can no longer be used for agriculture or housing means. Additionally, just natural habitat of plants and animals is eliminated or reduced.
Other Downsides of Solar Energy
- Intermittency and Weather Dependence: Solar power generation is dependent on sunlight, which means it is intermittent and varies with weather conditions. Cloudy days, nighttime, and other factors can reduce the amount of energy generated. Energy storage solutions like batteries can mitigate this issue, but they can be expensive and have limitations in terms of capacity.
- High Initial Costs: The installation of solar panels and associated equipment can have high upfront costs. While the cost of solar panels has decreased over the years, the initial investment can still be a significant barrier for some individuals or businesses.
- Space Requirements: Solar panels require a significant amount of space to generate substantial amounts of energy. This can be a challenge for densely populated urban areas or properties with limited available space.
- Energy Storage Challenges: Storing excess energy generated during sunny periods for use during cloudy or nighttime periods can be challenging and expensive. While battery technology is improving, high-capacity and cost-effective energy storage solutions are still developing.
- Energy Conversion Efficiency: The efficiency of solar panels in converting sunlight into electricity is improving, but it is not yet 100%. Some energy is lost as heat during the conversion process. This means that a portion of the sunlight collected is not converted into usable energy.
- Geographical Limitations: Solar power generation is more efficient in regions with abundant sunlight. Areas with frequent cloudy or overcast weather may not be as suitable for maximizing solar energy production.
- Maintenance and Durability: Solar panels require maintenance to ensure optimal performance. Dust, debris, and bird droppings can accumulate on panels and reduce their efficiency. Additionally, over time, solar panels might degrade due to exposure to the elements.
- Environmental Impact of Production: The manufacturing of solar panels involves the use of various materials, including some that are non-renewable or have environmental impacts. Additionally, the production process itself can generate greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.
- Aesthetic Concerns: Some people find solar panels unsightly or disruptive to the visual appeal of buildings or landscapes. This can be a concern in areas with strict aesthetic regulations or preferences.
- Dependency on Incentives: In many places, the adoption of solar power has been accelerated by government incentives, subsidies, and tax credits. The viability of solar power as an energy source could be impacted if these incentives are reduced or eliminated.
- Transmission and Distribution: The electricity generated by solar panels needs to be transmitted and distributed to where it’s needed. This can involve losses in efficiency as the electricity travels through the grid.
It’s important to note that many of these downsides are being actively addressed through ongoing research, technological advancements, and policy changes. As solar technology continues to evolve, some of these challenges may become less significant over time.
Wrapping up Solar Panel Effects
I feel like renewable energy sources are what is going to get us out of this global crisis of global warming. Solar is just one source of renewable power, and while it isn’t perfect, it has strong promise. We have some work to do on reducing the downsides of solar energy associated with solar panels. The good news we are constantly improving. Already there are new sources being evaluated that are significantly less toxic. Just about everything has it’s pros and cons, and I hope this post, albeit a bit concerning provides a clear picture of what we need to address.