Are the Disadvantages of Solar Energy a Deal Breaker

The advantages of solar energy are now well known. It’s renewable: as long as the sun shines, solar energy can be produced. It’s better for the air. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy does not produce pollution. Or does it? The disadvantages of solar energy may surprise you, but are not without solutions.

 

A Space Problem

 

Unlike a fossil fuel or nuclear power plant, it takes a lot of empty space to construct a solar field capable of powering a city. To build a solar field that could generate 1,000 megawatts of power, climate change scientist Jesse Ausubel in New Scientist calculates it would require 150 square kilometers or 57 square miles of open land. To build such a facility obviously would cause environmental damage, as the land must be cleared to put up the solar panels.

 

Pollution

 

Solar energy is touted as cleaner and better for the environment. Therefore, the biggest surprise may be that the production of solar energy does create pollution. Yes, the production of the energy is cleaner, but the production of the solar panels and other equipment needed to produce that energy is not. To fully evaluate the environmental impact of any energy source, you have to look closely at how that energy source is produced from beginning to end. The LA Times reports that producing the polycrystalline silicon needed for the solar cells creates a toxic byproduct.

 

In addition, the life span of a solar panel is about 20 to 25 years. It can be less as technology improves and panels are upgraded sooner. The panels then become nothing more than garbage. This creates the same environmental problems as any other electronic waste that ends up in the landfill. Toxic materials from the panels and other equipment can leach into the ground and groundwater.

 

Location

 

How efficient a solar panel is at producing energy not only depends on the technology, but also the region. Put a solar system on a house in Arizona, southern California, or Texas, and you may never pay another electricity bill again. Put that exact same system on a house in Michigan or Wisconsin, and you may only see a slight reduction in your energy bills through the summer months. Solar panels need several hours of sunlight a day to make enough energy to power a house. This makes them an ideal green energy solution for southern states and a poor one for northern states.

 

None of these disadvantages should slow or discourage the growth of solar energy as a better source of energy. These disadvantages are not without solutions and the benefits of using a renewable resource greatly outweigh the inevitable problems that arise. The space problem is one that can easily be addressed by thinking differently about creating and using energy. If every building and house in regions that get a lot of sun had its own solar panels on the roof, then space is not an issue. Unused space would be put to good use and not create further land damage to generate the needed energy. Solar companies are working to prevent the manufacturing and upgrading of solar energy equipment from becoming an environmental disaster. They are developing proper disposal methods and recycling materials to reduce the negative environmental impact from solar energy waste.

Sam Jones the author of this article has been researching companies offering free solar panels and recommends uSwitch.com for all the latest information and advice.