The flip side of the ‘clean & green solar cells'
A critical view on some negative impacts of solar photovoltaic systems.
Initially during the infancy of solar tech, harnessing energy through solar panels was rather an expensive and relatively inefficient task. As new technological advancements took place in the past twenty years or so, the world's reliance on solar energy has increased by 300-fold (Kerr, 2019). Solar power is one of the most abundant and sustainable technologies that are present out there. It is being adopted by many nations with the intent of reducing emissions from their energy sector and is assured of record growth in the coming years?[5] . Along with wind, solar photovoltaics (PVs) are one of the most significant and established low-carbon technologies that are growing on a rapid scale as the costs of development are coming down. In 2020 an estimated 107 GW of solar energy was added around the world, with a further 117 GW in 2021 and is expected to increase an average of 125 capacity each year worldwide?[5] .
India's progress on Solar energy and implementation
The solar energy sector in India is a significant player in the grid-connected power generation system, whilst supporting the sustainable growth mission of the country. Solar energy is taken as a game changer in India’s Action Plan on Climate Change, with the National Solar Mission as one of the key projects. The mission's main aim is to represent India as the global leader in solar energy by creating supporting policies and incentives for solar tech to be integrated as a key source of energy in India?[4] . India currently holds the 5th global position in Solar power generation, and the capacity has increased significantly in the last eight years from 2.6GW to 40GW?[4] . India also has the largest solar park in the world, the Bhadla Solar park in Rajasthan which spans over 14,000 acres housing 10 million panels with an operational capacity of 2245 MW (enough to power 1.8 million houses (Dellinger, 2021))?[3] . With the increasing success of solar power, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) also has proposed to construct a 4750 MW project in Gujarat at the Rann of Kutch, twice the size of Bhadla Solar park.
Solar PV systems on the rise
The reason for this increased adoption of PV technology is owed to the fact that these systems have low operational cost, low maintenance and are rather easy to set up. A study also shows that electricity generated by photovoltaics is more sustainable than electricity powered by fossil fuels?[1] . From a carbon footprint perspective, the carbon debt of the panels is generally paid back within 1-3 years depending on various factors. This means that PV systems can provide carbon-free electricity for decades after the brief initial payback period?[7] .
Another advantage of the Panel system is that it is one of the most promoted renewable energy systems through government subsidies and incentives. This increases the chances for households and communities to install PV systems, along with the fact that the silent operation conditions make it favourable for installation in urban and rural settings. Plus the availability of free and abundant solar energy makes it all the more viable and easy to install for any entity?[2] .
In spite of all these advantages, there are some concerning drawbacks that are good to be aware of before adopting solar PV technology. Solar panels don't produce emissions while generating energy, however, the production steps leading up to the energy generation and the end-of-life phase cause substantial GHG emissions. Following are some rising concerns about Solar PV systems on the environment
Wasteful Use of land for large projects
The use of land for large-scale solar projects is one drawback, this can lead to large-scale land degradation of precious agriculture fields or natural ecosystems. In many countries, large solar facilities are built on agricultural land, as they are usually south-facing (which gives the maximum amount of sunlight). The use of agricultural land can also lead to political sparks between farmers and environmental groups, one prominent example being Sullivan’s Farm in Connecticut, USA. One report agency found that the state government in a particular area was spending large amounts of money to protect agricultural land but encouraging them to build solar facilities on this land?[9] .
This problem can be avoided by either opting to implement smaller solar PV arrays on top of houses or commercial buildings. Another potential option would be to build large-scale PV systems on degraded, contaminated land or abandoned minefields/ quarries, this would provide the double benefit of utilising unused land and creating clean energy?[8] .
Use of toxic materials and depletion of valuable metals
There are a lot of toxic chemicals and materials used in the manufacturing phase of solar panels. These include chemicals such as sulphuric acid, nitric acid, acetone, fluoride etc and metals like chromium, cadmium, indium gallium. The manufacturing and mining operations emit a lot of these toxic by-products, which usually aren't taken into account when promoting solar PV usage?[7] . The workers on the minefield and manufacturing floor also face the risk of poisoning and other health issues. Depletion of rare earth metals is also another problem associated with the increased adoption of Solar PV, as the panels require these metals for their manufacturing.
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PV manufacturers and raw material extraction organisations should make sure to adhere to laws and regulations prioritising the safety of their workers and make sure to handle toxic chemicals accordingly. Organisations should also ensure the proper disposal techniques for these toxic chemicals and metals?[9] . This can lead to contamination and poisoning of land, soil and air, which can lead to large-scale health problems for the local community.
Impact of solar PV’s at their End Of Life
To measure the impact of solar PV, we have to take into account how the panels are disposed of at the end of their use cycle. Disposal of these panels prematurely will send a lot of useful materials to landfills, which will further take up space. In addition, these panels also have toxic substances which can seep into land and water if not taken care of while disposal?[7] . Compared to nuclear energy, solar energy creates around 300 times more toxic waste per unit of energy?[9] . With the increasing number of government incentives and rapid upgrades of technology, people often swap their existing PV systems after just a few years of use. This causes an alarming increase in E-waste all over the world.
Of the many viable options, setting up recycling units for the panels is one of many alternatives that governments & companies alike should invest in, creating an ecosystem for a circular economy. The materials used in solar panels are around 90% reusable/recyclable, these materials if channelled for repurposing offers an avenue of making a profit through recycling?[9] . Not to be forgotten, it is also the responsibility of the consumer to be aware to not swap panels unnecessarily, which can also reduce the number of useful substances ending up as waste materials.
Risk of grid saturation
Grid saturation is when there is a large amount of electricity generated more than what the grid can handle. This causes the grid to become highly unstable and tends to damage the power grid system. Solar power in specific causes a lot of grid saturation, as the panels generate large amounts of energy during the day?[6] .
High production of electricity from PV systems causes huge problems for grid operators as they cannot keep pace with the changes and upgrades needed to accommodate this influx of energy. The voltage regulators and other initial systems have to be constantly updated to keep up with the new modern energy generation systems. Grid saturation can also result in energy being wasted, as the existing systems are not able to transmit or store the extra energy produced. In some energy markets with an updated grid system, it poses problems with turning wholesale energy prices negative?[6] . This does not allow large-scale energy suppliers to generate electricity and can destabilise the market. The energy generated from panels is not easy to regulate and requires constant watch to accommodate the new flow of renewable energy.
These problems can be mitigated by appropriate planning and constant surveillance from grid operators. They should prioritise anticipating scenarios and identify areas where grid saturation can pose issues. Grids should integrate smart inverters and other necessary components aiding the grid operator to regulate the flow of energy. Another possible solution would be to create sufficient energy storage systems, which are able to accommodate the excess energy produced during peak hours?[6] .
Solar PV is one potential way forward to renewable energy
When comparing the total environmental impact of solar PV systems with that of energy generated from fossil fuels, it is no contest at all as Solar PV systems have far less impact. Regardless, as the world is transitioning to renewable energy systems at a fast rate and new technology is being innovated, it is important to be aware of the negative impacts of these new systems. Being aware of the concerns would provide information to improve standards and practices to minimise environmental impact?[7] . Furthermore allowing us to work on these problems and create better solutions to lead to a sustainable future.
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