How Solar Panels Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Solar panels reduce your carbon footprint as a renewable energy source that doesn’t produce greenhouse gas emissions during operation. This helps minimise the effects of climate change. 

Solar panels can reduce your reliance on fossil fuels to provide energy and heat. Let’s look at how clean energy (and particularly solar panels) can help change the future.

What Impact Do Fossil Fuels Have On The Environment?

Fossil fuels affect the environment in various ways, including:

• Climate change
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Ecosystem disruptions
• Impact on wildlife
• Degrading land integrity

Fossil fuels have played a significant role in providing energy for home- and business owners over the past decades. However, the consequences that have resulted from their use are reaching a catastrophic level.

Energy source comparison

Here is a basic comparison of the four main energy sources and their impact on the environment:

Environmental impact	Solar panels	Coal	Natural gas	Oil
Air pollution	No emissions are produced during their operation.	Releases emissions like sulphur oxide. and nitrogen oxide.	Contributes to smog.	Contributes to smog.
Water pollution	Water contamination from the mining of silicone and other solar panel materials.	Water contamination from mining.	Fracking can contaminate water.	Oil spills contaminate water.
Greenhouse gas emissions during operation	None	CO2 emissions	CO2 emissions	CO2 emissions
Land use	Minimal land is required to install roof-mounted solar panels. However, some space is needed for ground-mounted systems and solar farms.	Extensive land is required for mining and ash disposal.	Extensive land is required for pipelines.	Extensive land is required for pipelines.
Environmental benefits	Clean energy generation.No air or water pollution during operation.Reduced reliance on fossil fuels.	None.Contributes heavily to air and water pollution.A major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.	Less polluting than coal.Releases greenhouse gases during combustion.	Less polluting than coal.Releases greenhouse gases during combustion.
Carbon footprint at the point of use (g CO2e/kWh)	0	1,000	400	800

These comparisons show that solar panels have a smaller carbon footprint than coal and natural gas.

What Is The Carbon Footprint Of Manufacturing Solar Panels?

The carbon footprint of manufacturing solar panels is approximately 41 g CO2/kWh. Solar panels draw energy from the sun, which they convert into power for electricity and heat. While operating, they do not emit greenhouse gases. However, the manufacturing and mining phases (before production) do affect the environment.

Solar panel manufacturing

Solar panels are made from silicon, glass, semiconductors, and various metals. From mining to manufacturing, various pollutants are released, contributing to water, air, and soil pollution. Additionally, greenhouse gases are emitted during the mining phase. 

Unfortunately, a lot of electricity is used during the solar panel manufacturing process, but this is minimal compared to the emissions created by fossil fuels. 

Carbon debt

However, it is estimated that within three years of installing solar panels, your property would have paid off its carbon debt and be considered carbon neutral.

In other words, it only takes three years for a solar panel system to generate enough clean, renewable energy to offset the carbon emissions associated with its entire lifecycle, including the time it takes for manufacturing, transportation, installation, operation, and maintenance.

One of the benefits of using solar is that it is a renewable electricity source that does not have a detrimental effect on nature. The solar industry is growing rapidly to help businesses and homes reduce their carbon footprint. As a result, the industry is constantly trying to optimise its processes. The energy payback time will reduce even further over the following years.

What Is The Carbon Footprint Of Recycling Solar Panels?

Most solar panels are constructed out of silicon, metals, and glass, which are all recyclable. Since these materials constitute 95% of solar panels, this is the minimum amount of material that can be recycled.

Solar panels have been around for just over two decades and most of the earlier models are only reaching the end of their lifespans now. Thus, the actual recycling and disposal of solar panels is a field that will undergo serious study and consideration over the next few years.

If you are ready to install solar panels and need the old ones to be recycled, you can check with your installer if they have a safe way to discard the panels. 

What Are The Environmental Benefits Of Solar Energy?

Having solar panels installed has significant environmental benefits.

Renewable and clean energy

Solar panels offer a clean and sustainable way to generate power for your home. There are no harmful gases or carbon emissions emitted by the electricity generated. Additionally, the energy is created sustainably – harnessing energy from the sun, which is constantly replenished.

Less reliance on fossil fuels

Clean energy production from solar panels does not require fossil fuels, as it relies solely on sunshine. The more solar electricity you use, the less you will rely on national grid electricity, typically using fossil fuels.

Reduced carbon footprint

Due to the renewable energy source and the absence of carbon emissions, using solar energy helps reduce your carbon footprint.

Long lifespan

Solar panels can last from 25 to 30 years and require minimal maintenance. They generate clean energy consistently, thus reducing your reliance on fossil fuels.

What Are The Lifecycle Emissions Of Solar Panels?

According to the IPCC, solar PV systems have median lifecycle emissions of 41 g CO2eq/kWh. Coal-powered electricity sources sit at 820 g CO2eq/kWh and gas at 490 g CO2eq/kWh. Wind power is measured as the least, with onshore wind turbines having median emissions of only 11 g CO2eq/kWh.

• Gas emits 12 times as much emissions as solar panels.
• Coal emits 20 times as much emissions as solar panels.

The average UK home emits around 1.3 tonnes of CO2 gases per year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Over 10 years, that amounts to 13 metric tonnes of CO2 gases released into the atmosphere.

FAQs

Is it environmentally worth getting solar panels?

While the upfront costs may seem like a lot, within a short time, the environmental benefits outweigh the cost. By generating your own solar power, your reliance on fossil fuels is reduced, which means fewer greenhouse gases are being emitted.

What are solar farms?

Solar farms are large, energy-producing farms where a photovoltaic power system is established to produce and collect solar energy for commercial sale and use.

How much electricity can a solar panel produce?

Residential solar panels can produce around 1–1.5 kWh of electricity. This is based on the wattage size of the panels, the climate you are in, and the number of sunshine hours you get in a day.

Residential solar panels typically range from 250 W to 400 W, so the higher the wattage rating, the more electricity the solar panels can produce and the lower your electricity bill could be. Typically, the more solar panels installed, the more electricity you receive.

How do solar panel incentives encourage clean energy production?

The UK government actively supports clean energy production. Previously, the Feed-In Tariff offered financial assistance. It was replaced by the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme. This programme allows you to earn money for any excess electricity generated by your solar panels and fed back onto the grid. This reduces the need for energy from fossil fuels.

Final Thoughts

Solar panels can reduce your carbon footprint and help build a sustainable future. 

If you are concerned about the environment and the impact of your actions, it may be time to look into installing solar panels. Discuss your options with our expert solar installation team at Eco Happy, today.

Receiving all the power you need for your home through solar technology can simultaneously help you reduce your carbon footprint and avoid rising energy bills. Moving towards a cleaner, greener future starts with switching to solar power.