Environmental Science Table of Contents 47 Lab.docx
What Are The Main Downsides To Solar Energy?
1. The use of photovoltaic cells as a means of clean and
sustainable energy has been gaining popularity in recent
years. For many people, they provide hope for reducing
reliance on power plants that spew pollution and add to
the nuclear waste disposal problem. While there are
numerous benefits to using solar panels, there are also
many downfalls. No matter what proponents would have
you believe, photovoltaic panels are not necessarily the
warm and fuzzy solution to the world's clean energy crisis
they've been made out to be.
3. The use of photovoltaic technology for practical purposes
is still a relatively new concept and is not yet widely
employed. As a result, the cost of these panels is very high
and they may be a struggle for the average earner to
afford. However, as they become more popular, the cost of
purchasing and installing a photovoltaic system will
become more reasonable.
5. Nothing ever lasts forever. Although photovoltaic panels
are meant to last for about 15 to 20 years, they will
eventually need to be disposed of. All of that plastic will
sit in a landfill and leach into the environment where it
can enter the food and water supply and cause health
problems. Their manufacture and transportation will also
cause a significant amount of pollution. On top of that,
these panels contain more than 50 known hazardous
substances such as mercury, silicon tetrachloride, kerf
nanoparticles, cadmium telluride, sulfur hexafluoride,
copper indium selenide and copper indium gallium.
6. Plastics also tend to give off gas toxins into the air when
they are exposed to prolonged periods of heat, sun and
water.
8. A study done by a group of Italian researchers has
revealed that photovoltaic panels will actually end up
costing more money to buy and install than you will save
over the course of their useful life. The amount of money
that goes into producing them is an amazing 2.5 times the
amount of what generated power would cost have
otherwise cost. This relegates photovoltaic panels to being
little more than a money drain.
10. There seem to be many pollution issues plaguing solar
energy and yet another is the heavy use of batteries. Panel
arrays are hooked up to large banks of deep cycle batteries
similar to the ones used in cars. These batteries contain
many dangerous chemicals such as lead, mercury and
lithium. They're prone to leakage, present disposal
challenges and explosion concerns and produce hydrogen
gas as a result of their function, not only that but batteries
appropriate for use with solar systems are very expensive
and require rigorous maintenance.
12. Although solar power generation in cloudy areas is still
feasible, there are other weather and environmental
factors that can hinder their efficiency. If air pollution is
thick, adequate sunlight will be unable to penetrate it as
effectively and reach the panels' surface. High
temperatures, like those experienced in sunny locations,
can also lead to decreased power production. Once the
solar panels get between 95 and 107 degrees, power
efficiency begins to go south.