Solar Panel Toxins

In various studies carried out by the European “Crystal Clear” Energy Commission, one square meter of completely manufactured solar cells can cost from 75 to 314 kilograms of CO2 to produce. The report goes on to indicate that installation of these cells can cost 600 to 3,140 kilograms of CO2 in sunny regions, while the number go up to 6,280 kilograms in cloudy regions.

But why is this?

The process used to manufacture these cells in very intensive, requiring first energy most often produced by the very products these cells are being created to replace. Thanks to other emissions from the mining and wafering of raw materials, heavy metal pollution is also a serious side effect of solar panel production, leading the report to conclude that in the worst case, solar panels are only 4 times cleaner than petroleum energy. 

Another investigation points out that the amount nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), produced not just through the creation of photovoltaic cells, but also flat screen TVs and computer displays, is slowly rising in the atmosphere. Where initial reports predicted about 1,200 metric tons in the atmosphere, the real number seems to be around 4,200 tons, and what’s worse is NF3 stays in the atmosphere five times longer than C02. 

The good news is solar panels are still the cleaner source. But what can be done to reduce the amount of wasted energy and toxic emissions produced by panel manufacturers? Many experts are still hopeful, pointing out that solar technology is becoming more energy efficient each year in addition to getting smaller, and in turn needing less energy to create. 

Along with this, perhaps the best idea is to use the already produced panels to replace petroleum chemicals that power manufacturing sites. BP Solar has already taken this advice in the building of their headquarters in Frederick, Maryland. The site consists of an entire building wall that powers the 140,000 square foot manufacturing and development center. This is just more proof that alternative energies still have a long way to go before they’re completely clean, but they are working towards that end.

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