Depletion Of Resources Used To Make Solar Panels

When assesing solar panels as a key energy resource it is important to weigh up any concerns.

Depletion of resources used to make solar panels.

Some potential issues include. Solar panels will never generate enough power to offset the energy that was used to manufacture them in the first place. Then it makes energy with no energy cost at all for the rest of its life. Based on models and real data the idea that pv cannot pay back its energy investment is simply a myth.

1 like recently a customer of ours raised the concern that he had heard. Sawing silicon into discs for use creates silicon dust called kerf with up to 50 waste. That energy that went into making the panels is called embodied energy. The following table details some of the hazardous materials that can be found on a solar panel.

So a solar panel will make many times more energy than it takes to make it. From there the grade must be further purified into polysilicon the solar grade purity of which is 99 999 percent. Even ten years ago this study said it takes about 2 years of energy generation to pay back the energy used to make the solar panel. Although not ideal toxic substances are sometimes used to help improve the efficiency and durability of solar energy systems.

With assumed life expectancies of 30 years and taking into account the fossil fuel based energy used in manufacture 87 to 97 of the energy that pv systems generate won t be plagued by pollution greenhouse gases and depletion of resources.