The second issue is how much greenhouse house gas ghg is avoided by using solar power with the typical focus on carbon dioxide co2 the most significant greenhouse gas from fossil fuel electricity generation.
C02 emissions from manufacturing solar panels.
Many solar panels are made in china where dirty coal makes up much of the country s power supply.
For instance concentrated solar power csp has a footprint of 20 grams of carbon dioxide co2 per kilowatt hour kwh of electricity produced in addition to consuming vast amounts of water.
Most solar companies use their own solar panels to power their panel manufacturing plants so the consumption of fossil fuel derived energy to make panels is now very low and getting lower.
Using solar panels to harness energy from the sun is a great way to make the switch to green electricity.
How do solar panels reduce your carbon emissions.
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.
To create a solar panel caustic materials will emit greenhouse gases.