Co2 Emissions To Produce A Solar Panel

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.

Co2 emissions to produce a solar panel.

Most estimates of life cycle emissions for photovoltaic systems are between 0 07 and 0 18 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour. Even at this top end however solar s footprint is very low compared to other sources. The panel is rated to produce 224 watts of power in 1 hour of peak solar intensity. 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.

Energy payback for solar panels is 1 3 years. Most estimates for concentrating solar power range from 0 08 to 0 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour. For instance concentrated solar power csp has a footprint of 20 grams of carbon dioxide co2 per kilowatt hour kwh of electricity produced in addition to consuming vast amounts. Solar panels glimmering in the sun are an icon of.

By scott cramer although the use of solar panels is green many solar panel manufacturing processes are not. 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. Making and using solar panels emits zero co2 in a 100 renewable energy system. The levels of the resulting emissions mostly carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide can t do much harm to the people working at silicon.

Here s another way to look at it even using lca life cycle assessment wikipedia. Solar panels payback the energy in 1. 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.