A MYTH! SOLAR PANELS ARE NOT GREEN!!??

Another myth debunked

SOLAR PANELS ARE NOT THAT ‘GREEN’?

This myth gets stirred up every now and then, but is not backed up by any tangible data.  What the data does show is that the emissions of solar panels are far less than the emissions relating to coal or natural gas energy.

The overall emissions seem greater than they are since solar panels require all of their energy up-front.  But when dispersed over 30 years of emission-free generation, they prove to be much cleaner than the common alternatives.

Even when the energy to mine, clean, process, and manufacture the solar panels is taken into account, the overall emission intensity is 3x to 10x less than traditional fossil fuels. 

Besides the emissions benefits, solar panels have an energy payback period of about 2 to 3 years according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  This is about 40% faster than a standard coal-fired power plant will pay back its energy.

Solar panels produce far less emissions per kWh of energy than coal or natural gas and payback their energy faster than coal or natural gas.

It is true, the production of solar panels is not yet clean but oil is dirty all the way, from pumping it out of the ground to refining and burning it and what it leaves behind.