It is not news that photovoltaic energy helps reduce environmental impacts, highlighting the positive solar impact on the path to cleaner and more environmentally responsible energy practices.
However, it is worth noting that there are solar panels bad for the environment in the manufacture of solar panels, as well as in the disposal of solar energy equipment, in photovoltaic plants and other energy sources.
In this article, we will aim to address the environmental impacts of solar energy and its characteristics and discover how it is possible to reduce them. Let’s take a look below!
What is the environmental impact of photovoltaic energy?
It has low environmental impacts, being the energy source with the lowest pollutant emissions, however there are still some impacts that must be considered, such as the production and disposal of solar panels or the installation of photovoltaic plants.
1. Environmental impacts of solar energy in the manufacture of solar panels
The manufacturing of solar panels, the main equipment used in photovoltaic systems, is responsible for 85% of the energy consumed in the manufacturing processes of photovoltaic technology. Therefore, solar panels are the main consumers of energy in manufacturing, since the equipment requires several resources, steps and chemical elements for its production.
With this in mind, we can consider that no energy source, even if renewable, is entirely free of environmental impacts. However, unlike non-renewable sources such as coal, which is still widely used to produce electricity around the world, solar energy has a small environmental impact because it does not emit polluting gases during its energy generation.
However, in the Life Cycle Assessment, it is possible to analyze the environmental impacts caused by solar panels during their useful life by studying the amount of material and energy used by the product and the emission of pollutants and waste during its use. In this way, its assessment begins with the extraction of raw materials until the end of the product’s life, such as recycling or reuse.
Its life cycle, therefore, will depend on the installation location and country of manufacture, but it is estimated that between 1.5 and 2.5 years the solar panel will have already produced the same amount of energy as expected.
2. Environmental impacts of disposing of solar energy equipment
At the end of their useful life, consumers are advised to reuse solar energy equipment, such as solar panels, inverters and other waste that does not need to be disposed of. However, many choose to discard these materials, contributing to increased environmental impacts.
When necessary, each country must provide information on the most appropriate method for disposing of equipment, in order to ensure safety for the population and the environment. In addition, there are wastes, such as radioactive wastes, for which there is no risk-free disposal method because they are highly contaminating.
3. Environmental impacts of solar energy in the operational process
The environmental impacts related to the operational process of solar energy are practically zero. The technology used to produce solar energy is the one that lasts the longest among other types of energy generation, which makes it much more sustainable.
Furthermore, the generation carried out by solar panels does not emit polluting gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or any other type of gas that causes the greenhouse effect, for example. To maintain the system, it is not necessary to use water, and the energy consumption for maintenance is very low.
4. Environmental impacts in manufacturing and plant construction
The negative impacts of power plant construction only affect the environment in larger projects. This is the case for centralized generation plants, which need to be very large to accommodate the installation’s numerous solar panels, often occupying several hectares of land.
The construction of this type of plant causes impacts related to the local biotic environment, that is, it can cause damage to the ecosystems present in the area. The main damage is in relation to the vegetation, which is compromised by the earthworks carried out and the shading generated by the solar modules.
The animals that are in the area may also be at risk, as accidents may occur when making room for the construction of the plants. In addition, the animals’ feeding habits may be affected due to changes in patterns, and the vegetation that serves as food for them may become scarcer due to the construction.
In the physical environment, the negative impact is directly related to the landscape present at the site, the waste that construction can generate, failures in the storage of chemical products and the generation of gases and dust that affect air quality.
It is also worth noting that the construction of photovoltaic plants also causes an increase, albeit temporary, in the population density of the location, generates noise and vibrations due to heavy vehicles passing through the construction site and can also cause an increase in real estate speculation.
5. Environmental impacts of other energy sources
As previously mentioned, coal is an energy source that directly affects the environment through the emission of polluting gases, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ash, which are released into the air after coal is burned to generate energy. Even so, it is worth noting that it tends to emit twice as much CO2 as other fossil fuels.
Fossil energy
In the case of fossil fuels, the environmental impacts are much greater than those of solar energy. This is because oil, natural gas and coal need to be burned in order to produce this energy.
When these fuels are burned, many gases are released that are harmful to people’s health, as is the case in China, which produces this type of energy from coal. There, residents wear masks to avoid being infected by the pollution generated by the raw material.
The production of fossil fuels also harms the environment. One of the main gases emitted is CO2, commonly called carbon dioxide, which is known to be the main cause of the greenhouse effect.
Furthermore, fossil fuels are not considered a renewable energy source, even though the elements used are extracted from nature. Oil, for example, is close to being exhausted worldwide, which means that, in addition to being bad for the environment, fossil fuels will soon no longer be able to be generated.
Hydraulic energy
The case of hydroelectric power is a little different. It is generated by hydroelectric plants and, during the energy generation process, there is no occurrence of pollution or harm to people’s health.
However, when hydroelectric plants are built, the impact caused is devastating. They are built by diverting the course of rivers and flooding the area where the energy reservoir is located.
Because of this, the vegetation in the area, as well as the animal species that roam there, are greatly harmed by the change in their natural habitat.
Furthermore, in order to build hydroelectric plants, it is often necessary for riverside communities to be removed from the site, which has consequences for the lives of these people.
The decomposition of the material that remains at the bottom of the reservoirs can also cause considerable damage to the environment, as it emits carbon dioxide, which causes the greenhouse effect, and methane.
Nuclear energy
In terms of environmental impacts, nuclear energy stands out negatively when compared to other types of generation. Even though it can produce considerable amounts of energy, it generates a lot of radioactive waste, which can contaminate people, as happened in the nuclear accidents in Fukushima and Chernobyl.
Another point that causes great concern in the generation of solar energy is the use of water in the process. Water is increasingly scarce in the world, so its use for energy generation is not a viable and sustainable option in the long term.
Biomass
There are several types of energy generation that are carried out using biomass. One of them is the one that uses biofuels as the primary source. These fuels are derived from wood and even sugar cane. Traditional biomasses use firewood and sometimes animal sternum as a source of energy generation.
Unfortunately, even though it uses some natural resources, biomass energy, in many cases, involves burning sugarcane fields and ends up increasing deforestation of forests and wooded areas. Water consumption is also a problem, as is the erosion of the soil used to plant the raw material for generation.
Wind energy
Wind energy is gaining more and more ground worldwide because it does not cause greenhouse gas emissions, burning, and does not use water. However, unfortunately, generating energy from the air causes significant environmental impacts.
The main negative impact is related to the fauna of the area where the turbines are installed. For example, many animals, such as bats, end up colliding directly with the turbine blades. In addition, wind energy bothers residents living near the turbines and towers, as it makes a lot of noise and disturbs the local landscape.
After reading this article, you have learned about solar energy’s environmental impacts and the impacts caused by conventional energy generation. Now, it’s time to learn more about this alternative energy source that can help you reduce your electricity bill.