With an ever-increasing uptake of solar energy for both domestic and commercial energy solutions, it has become a leading form of renewable energy as governments and individuals look to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels further and reduce their carbon footprint. With this increased interest and use of solar energy, many people are asking “are solar panels sustainable?”

The great news is – yes! Solar-powered technologies use the abundance of energy emitted from the sun to produce electricity that powers our homes and technology. Although not currently a completely foolproof solution, solar panels and solar-powered technology are driving us towards a more sustainable future. Let’s take a further look at why is solar good for the environment and the sustainability of solar energy.

What Is Sustainability?

As we all look to reduce our carbon footprints and impact on the environment, sustainability is a crucial term to understand. The United Nations defines sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Is Solar Power Sustainable or Not?

In recent history, many of our practices have been unsustainable and significantly damaged our natural environment. The great thing about solar energy is it fits in with this definition of sustainability because we can harness the sun’s energy without reducing its future availability. For the next few billion years, the sun will be emitting more than enough energy for solar panels to take advantage of – so are solar panels sustainable? Yes.

Are Solar Panels Sustainable

Why Is Solar Energy Good For the Environment?

Is solar good for the environment? Yes! With the immense amount of solar energy produced by the sun, solar power is a form of renewable energy. When solar panels capture the suns energy and produce electrical energy to power our technology, they do not actively produce any emissions like traditional fossil fuel technologies. As a non-polluting source of energy, solar panels are good for our environment. The burning of fossil fuels emits an immense amount of pollution and requires a significant amount of water for cooling. Additionally, the processes produce contaminated materials, which can be very harmful to the environment if not disposed of correctly.

Solar Energy Is Everywhere!

One of the most sustainable things about solar energy is that it is everywhere around us. If the sun is shining, there is solar energy. Other forms of energy require particular geographical conditions or resources. The great thing about solar is if you have a panel, you can produce energy almost anywhere around the world and reduce the need for power to be transported long distances.

Uses Less Water

When asking is solar power sustainable or not, a key consideration is its use of water. At all stages of the process, from extraction to production, fossil fuels are very water-intensive. In many areas, water can be scarce, making the impact of fossil fuel production even more damaging. Although solar panels still require water as a resource, especially in extracting materials and manufacturing the panels, their water use is considerably less. Once they have been installed, solar panels require minimal water for cleaning and maintenance. As solar panels become more widely used and replace other water-intensive forms of energy generation, there will be a considerably reduced use of water. This will allow for precious water reserves to be used in other essential applications and help drought-stricken communities produce clean power without worrying about their water levels.

Alternative to Fossil Fuels

As solar panels are an alternative to fossil fuels, their increased use will further improve its sustainability by reducing our reliance and total emissions from fossil fuels. Although fossil fuels are considered a cheap source of energy, if you considered the cost on the environment and work needed to remedy its effects, it would be considerably more expensive. As we see an increased uptake in renewable forms of energy and the reduction in fossil fuels at a large scale, we would see a decrease in air and water pollution due to the many positive effects that would come with it. So, when asking are solar panels sustainable, we can also think about the positive impact of reducing the total impact from fossil fuels and carbon emissions.

what is sustainability infographic

Are Solar Panels Sustainable If They Are Made Of Non-Renewable Materials?

When asking are solar panels sustainable, although there are many significant sustainability aspects, it is still not currently a foolproof solution. Although the sun is a sustainable energy source, solar panels are currently made of finite materials that require mining and extraction.

So, are solar panels renewable? Yes, they are using renewable technology, but not all the materials are. Mining can be hazardous for the workers involved and requires degrading the landscape to access the various minerals and materials. These resources also need to be purified and processed into materials used in the solar cells, which requires energy, chemical processes and other resources such as water. For solar panels, this is currently the most unsustainable phase of its lifespan. The good news is despite these current drawbacks, an immense amount of research is being done to improve these processes with new technologies harnessing common materials and manufacturing processes that require fewer toxic chemicals and result in less waste.

Although a significant amount of energy is used to produce solar panels, they also have a short energy payback. Within two years, most solar panels will have produced more clean energy than was required to produce them. As the amount of energy and resources needed for production reduces and panels’ efficiency increases, the payback period will only grow shorter.

Another consideration is the manufacturing standards and practices used to make these panels. There have incidents of wrongful disposal of waste products and adverse flow-on effects. Like the materials used, legislation improvements can ensure more sustainable practices and regulation.

Are Solar Panels Sustainable If They Are Expensive?

Currently, solar energy is not as cost-effective as other forms of energy production, particularly non-renewable sources. In many areas around the world, solar power is currently too expensive to replace traditional fossil fuels. Solar technology continues to advance and is slowly becoming more economically sustainable. With these advances, it is hoped that it will become more cost-effective than non-renewable sources, and solar energy will be sustainable for all.

Solar-powered technologies have evolved over the years into a full-fledged industry, with thousands of Australians and hundreds of thousands across the world working in the solar energy industry. With the increasing importance of solar technology, many more could be working in the industry in the years to come. The investment and research going into solar panels seek to further increase the sustainability profile of solar panels and solar-powered technology. It is hoped that panels will be made from increasingly sustainable materials, will improve in efficiency and also be cheaper to produce and buy. As this research continues to improve the technologies, more and more people will be able to access this technology, and increased efficiency will make it a more viable solution for large scale applications.

Social Sustainability

Solar-powered technologies can also be produced for small and remote locations, giving people and towns access to power generation, which would otherwise be impossible to achieve. Small scale and portable technologies have allowed rural or poor villages across the world to power essential technologies and improve their quality of life. So, are solar panels sustainable socially? They have the potential to make a very positive difference. Whether it be for basic lighting, water pumps and filtration or other essential applications, solar panels are showing their social and economic sustainability benefits.

How You Can Help the Sustainability of Solar

Are solar panels green? They are pretty good (if we may say so ourselves) and are only going to get even better. Solar panels are a fantastic technology leading the charge towards a renewable energy future. Although they have some minor sustainability drawbacks at the current moment, as the technology advances, these aspects will improve. Continued investment and government initiative will continue to drive the advancement of solar technology. To ensure this continues we all need to put our money where our mouth is. Investing what we can in these technologies, supporting renewable enterprises and government renewable energy objectives.

With over a decade of industry experience and a passion for solar panels and solar panel technology, we are driven to make a positive difference using this technology. If you would like to learn more about how are solar panels sustainable or make an enquiry call us on 1300 361 682 or head to the Captain Green contact form.