Could it be that solar energy is not as great as we think? Like most everything, solar devices aren’t perfect. Ultimately, though, the benefits of solar energy far outweigh the negatives. Most doubts revolve around manufacturing and whether or not solar devices make up for the energy it takes to make them. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has a great post addressing this question. We’ll sum up some of the finer points below:

• PV modules generally last more than 20 years, producing far more energy than they consume during that time.
• Energy consumption of PV manufacturing has gone up steadily in efficiency each year, particularly with the silicon growth process.
• A PV system meeting half of the electrical needs of a typical household would eliminate about ½ ton of sulfur dioxide pollution from the air, and 600 lbs of nitrogen oxides. Pollutants produced during the manufacturing process, on the other hand, are minimal and largely recycled.
• Photovoltaic devices are made from a manufacturing process much prized by states and municipalities for being clean.
• The manufacture of concentrating solar devices and solar thermal devices is comparable to that used for windows, water heaters, or mirrors.

The SEIA uses data from a National Renewable Energy Laboratory report to draw the above conclusions. Another report, Emissions from Photovoltaic Life Cycles, found that solar cell air pollutants are 90 percent less than those resulting from fossil fuel technologies. This report is referenced in one of our previous posts, News that Proves Solar is All That.

Want to generate clean electricity from the sun’s renewable energy? Contact a certified solar installer today!