The problem with photovoltaic electricity

Could solar power halt the industry's breakneck growth?

A few lonely academics have been warning for years that solar power faces a fundamental challenge that could halt the industry’s breakneck growth. Simply put: the more solar you add to the grid, the less valuable it becomes.

Do solar installations cause land degradation?

Depending on their location, larger utility-scale solar facilities can raise concerns about land degradation and habitat loss. Total land area requirements varies depending on the technology, the topography of the site, and the intensity of the solar resource.

Should we scale up the production of solar PV materials?

Rather, we should consider the environmental implications of scaling up the production (or recycling) of materials needed to increase the adoption of solar PV and whether the supply of such materials can match the demand.

Why are utilities paying less for solar?

In other words, utilities are increasingly paying solar plants less than other sources overall, due to their fluctuating generation patterns. Wholesale prices are basically the amount that utilities pay power plants for the electricity they deliver to households and businesses.

How much carbon dioxide does a photovoltaic system emit?

Most estimates of life-cycle emissions for photovoltaic systems are between 0.07 and 0.18 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour. Most estimates for concentrating solar power range from 0.08 to 0.2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour.

Can solar panels be recycled?

Environmental advocates express concerns about the inability to recycle panels and the potentially hazardous materials that some contain. The environmental impact goes beyond waste. While the panels themselves produce energy without carbon emissions, other processes in the life cycle of a panel may not be as clean.