solar panel lifespan
Solar panels; truly better or not?
I read somewhere that the energy needed to produce solar panels is actually more then the output during the solar panels average lifespan. As many environmental options, this sounds like a double edged sword.
Did I read right, or are solar panels still a decent alternative in given situations?
In 1970, it was true that it took more energy to make a solar panel than the panel would deliver in its lifetime. This is no longer true, because the manufacturing process has become more efficient, and panels harvest more of the sun. But the urban myth continues to circulate.
This link http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy99osti/24619.pdf is to an article by the National Renewable Energy Labs. It’s somewhat dated, being 1999, but shows that a crystalline silicon panel will pay back the energy of its manufacture (and distribution, including shipping) in 4 years. The silicon is cut thinner today, and cells are more efficient, so I would not be surprised if the payback is now 2 years. It is likely measured in months for thin-film panels such as made by First Solar.
The primary raw ingredients that go into a conventional solar panel are quartz sand (to refine into glass, and silicon), aluminum for the frame, and copper for the wiring. Also, some synthetic plastic. None of these are unique to the rain forest, although it is true that copper is exported from some countries in South America.
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