Why Solar Panels Are Becoming a Toxic Nightmare
Story by Jeff Carlin B.Sc. Neuroscience • 3d
Markets today
The Environmental Cost of Production
Solar panels are often hailed as the champions of clean energy, but beneath their shiny surface lies an environmental conundrum. The process of manufacturing solar panels involves the use of hazardous materials such as cadmium, lead, and silicon.
As per the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), these substances can seep into the surrounding environment during production, contaminating soil and water. In 2021, it was noted that approximately 20% of the world's solar panels were made using these harmful materials.
The extraction of raw materials necessary for solar panel production further exacerbates ecological damage. From mining activities, which emit a significant amount of carbon, to habitat destruction, the environmental cost is substantial.
This aspect of solar panel production is often overshadowed by the perception of solar energy as a purely green solution.
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