The Not-So-Green Side of Solar
Sancho Cagulada | December 26, 2019
Photo by Science in HD on Unsplash
Solar panels are growing in popularity as nations around the world are becoming aware of their significant contribution in fighting climate change. In terms of sustainability, solar energy is more appealing than conventional fossil fuels since it is a clean, accessible, and a non-depleting energy source. According to IBISWorld, solar panel manufacturing’s annual revenue soared by 66% from $360M to $430M between 2017 and 2019. This growth is due to decreasing prices along with government subsidies, tax credits, and other incentives. Furthermore, the U.S. Energy Information Administration stated that generated electricity from solar panels skyrocketed from 510M kilowatt-hours (kWh) to 16B kWh. This makes solar power the fastest growing electricity generation source in the United States.
As a relatively new technology in comparison to conventional fossil fuels, some questions arise in terms of its environmental impacts. As we see the trend of significant demand increase, is the industry ready to support much bigger consumer populations while not posing harm to our environment? Industries inevitably create environmental impacts, and solar panel manufacturing is no exception. To better understand how solar panels impact the environment, we must consider their manufacturing process.
http://greencityblog.com/the-not-so-green-side-of-solar/
