Co2 Emissions To Produce A Solar Panel

The panel is rated to produce 224 watts of power in 1 hour of peak solar intensity.

Co2 emissions to produce a solar panel.

By scott cramer although the use of solar panels is green many solar panel manufacturing processes are not. The levels of the resulting emissions mostly carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide can t do much harm to the people working at silicon. Contrary to the claims of some critics today s research shows that the hidden emissions due to building wind turbines solar panels or nuclear plants are very low in comparison with the savings from avoiding fossil fuels. Solar panels glimmering in the sun are an icon of.

Most estimates of life cycle emissions for photovoltaic systems are between 0 07 and 0 18 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour. Making and using solar panels emits zero co2 in a 100 renewable energy system. The researchers gathered air pollution emissions data from 13 manufacturers of four major commercial types of solar cells in europe and the united states from 2004 to 2006. So if you live in santa fe new mexico you would generate 6 x 224 watts 1 33 kwh in one day with that one panel.

Most estimates for concentrating solar power range from 0 08 to 0 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour. Taking into account the two years to pay off the embedded energy in the panel after 25 years a 6 6kw system will have a net saving of around 243 tonnes of co2. Even at this top end however solar s footprint is very low compared to other sources. The team found that for every doubling of the world s solar capacity the energy required to make a panel fell by around 12 and associated carbon dioxide emissions by 17 24.

Energy payback for solar panels is 1 3 years. To create a solar panel caustic materials will emit greenhouse gases. Here s another way to look at it even using lca life cycle assessment wikipedia.