Do Solar Panels Reduce Co2 Emissions

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.

Do solar panels reduce co2 emissions.

To create a solar panel caustic materials will emit greenhouse gases. Because of this a recent parliamentary paper estimated cradle to grave emissions of solar power in the uk to be 88g co2 kwh whilst noting this will reduce over time. One way to reduce carbon emissions is to mitigate fossil fuel electricity production by using renewable energy instead. For the average five kilowatt residential system that means a reduction of more than 15 000 pounds of co2 every year.

Here in massachusetts the primary source of electricity generation is natural gas which is still a fossil fuel but does have much lower carbon emissions than coal. Many solar panels are made in china where dirty coal makes up much of the country s power supply. In general home energy use dips during the spring and fall rises slightly during winter and dramatically. This has to be tempered against emission reductions.

Specifically summer energy consumption is a major contributor to the average household s carbon footprint. Every 1 kwh of electricity produced here in massachusetts accounts for 0 846 lbs of carbon. Solar power ultimately has a carbon footprint as well. Residential solar pv systemsare capable of meeting a household s electricity consumption entirely and result in 80 lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels.

Turning you themostat down 3 degrees fahrenheit in the winter and up 3 degrees fahrenheit in the summer will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1 050 pounds per year. Yes it s true that making solar panels creates carbon dioxide but over the life of a solar installation it produces on average of 30x less co2 than coal power. Let s do some math some of which we ve covered.