How Green Is Solar Panel Production

Solar panels glimmering in the sun are an icon of all that is green.

How green is solar panel production.

The panel is rated to produce 224 watts of power in 1 hour of peak solar intensity. All of these factors can help you figure out which solar panels are the greenest. Silicon tetra chloride in solar. While solar panels are considered a form of clean renewable energy the manufacturing process does produce greenhouse gas emissions.

The manufacturing side of solar can be very un green since its energy intensive processes are often powered by fossil fuel based electricity. So if you live in santa fe new mexico you would generate 6 x 224 watts 1 33 kwh in one day with that one panel. In 2014 a study found that the carbon footprint of a solar panel produced in china where coal is heavily relied upon for electricity was twice that of a panel produced in europe. The struggle to keep photovoltaics green does not end with the production of polysilicon.

It would be great if all solar panel production facilities were powered by well solar power but this isn t always the case. The carbon footprint of solar panel production varies widely by region of production depending largely on the primary fuel that a region relies on for its energy. However solar panels are not emitting toxins into the atmosphere as they re generating electricity. In the case of solar panels some of the characteristics to consider are the materials used in its production and where the materials were sourced assembled and distributed.

To create a solar panel caustic materials will emit greenhouse gases. Although the use of solar panels is green many solar panel manufacturing processes are not. 5 hours x 290 watts an example wattage of a premium solar panel 1 450 watts hours or roughly 1 5 kilowatt hours kwh. Solar cell manufacturers purify.

Additionally to produce solar panels manufacturers need to handle toxic chemicals.