How Much Pollution Does Solar Panels Make

The overall greenhouse gas emissions involved in solar energy is still much lower than coal or natural gas.

How much pollution does solar panels make. Based on installed capacity and power related weight we can estimate that by 2016 photovoltaics had spread about 11 000 tons of lead and about 800 tons of cadmium. Solar power reduces pollution. A 2011 report showed that solar s carbon footprint averaged at roughly 85 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent co2e per gigawatt hour gwh while natural gas and coal came in at 499 co2e gwh and 888 co2e gwh respectively. If a car is necessary for travel consider.

Not only can opting for a bike over a car create an eco friendly environment but it also improves health. Irena projected that this amount. Increasingly however there are fears that making solar cells might release more hazardous pollution than fossil. A hazard summary of cadmium compounds produced by the epa points out that exposure to cadmium can lead to serious lung irritation and long lasting impairment of pulmonary functions.

Solar energy has long been touted as better for the environment than fossil fuels.