Green energy is a subset of renewable energy that provides the highest environmental benefits in terms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and protecting our environment. Solar energy is often referred to as green energy, so we had to ask: How green is solar energy? 

Overall, solar energy is considered to be green energy. It has a low to zero-emissions profile and minimal effects on the environment. Green energy is the generation of energy from virtually inexhaustible sources that have minimal impacts on the environment.

Keep reading to learn how green solar energy is throughout its life cycle, what its carbon footprint is, what role it plays in combating climate change, and how safe or dangerous it is. 

Here’s How Green Solar Energy Is

Solar energy is the conversion of solar radiation into electrical energy either through the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels or solar radiation-concentrating mirrors. 

“Solar Energy: energy that uses the power of the sun to produce electricity”

Cambridge Dictionary

Solar energy has become one of our most advanced, widespread, and greenest renewable energy technologies. Green energy is a more specific category of renewable energy that provides higher environmental benefits than just renewables. It can also reduce carbon footprints, air pollution, and water environmental costs.

“Green Energy: energy that can be produced in a way that protects the natural environment, for example by using wind, water, or the sun”

Cambridge Dictionary

Given the worsening climate crisis, green energy has to come to represent a larger share of the overall energy market.

To understand how green solar energy is, we must assess its life-cycle and each stage’s carbon footprint. This life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of products and materials. Over the years, companies have strategically used LCA to research and create more sustainable products. So, let’s have a look at the LCA of solar energy!

How Green Is Solar Energy Overall

Overall, solar energy is considered to be green because it has a low to zero-emissions profile and carbon footprint reductions that provide the highest environmental benefits, provided that proper siting, monitoring, maintenance, and disposal of solar materials occurs. 

How Green Is the Building of Solar Energy

The building stage of solar energy involves constructing solar panels/mirrors, solar facilities, and electricity delivery mechanisms. 

Solar power plants require many components including mirrors, heat-exchange fluid, receivers, engines, turbines, and generators as well as transmission lines, transformers, and substations, all of which come with their own carbon footprint and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. However, the amount of emissions produced during this stage is negligible compared to the emissions produced by fossil fuels.

In terms of land use, PV solar arrays constructed on top of residential or commercial buildings have a minimal land use impact, but utility-scale solar projects can have a large land use carbon footprint. A utility-scale PV solar plant can require 5-10 acres per megawatt of generating capacity, and concentrating solar plants typically require 10-15 acres. Clearing this land for construction can disturb natural habitats and degrade the land if proper precautionary measures are not followed.

How Green Is the Operating and Maintaining of Solar Energy

The operating and maintaining stage of solar energy includes the process by which solar facilities capture the sun’s rays and convert them into electricity. 

Solar energy produces a fraction of the pollution and toxic chemicals that fossil fuels produce, making the operating phase very environmentally friendly. Rather than combusting toxic materials, solar energy facilities harness the energy of the sun to generate electricity. In terms of emissions, solar energy generates between 38 and 48 grams of CO₂ equivalent per kWh of electricity produced and zero sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide emissions. 

Residential solar panels pose little to no threat to wildlife, and utility-scale solar facilities can be constructed in such a way to minimally impact the environment. Raised platforms can allow animals to shelter underneath, bird diverters and wildlife fences can keep wildlife away, and creating wetlands and planting vegetation between rows of solar panels can increase wildlife habitat.

How Green Is the Building Back of Solar Energy

The building back stage of solar energy involves:

1. Shutting down the solar panels and other mechanical equipment
2. Removing the solar panels, mirrors, racks, foundations, and enclosures from the site
3. Restoring the land or roof to its original state 

Solar panels themselves can be classified as hazardous waste depending on the type of metals present in the semiconductor and solder. However, recycling end-of-life solar panels can help ensure any toxic chemicals do not leach out into the environment. Many of the components of solar panels can be recycled, including glass, aluminum, copper wire, and the plastic junction box. Specialty metals and silicon cells can also be separated and purified via chemical and electrical techniques.

What Is the Carbon Footprint of Solar Energy

The carbon footprint is one of the ways we measure the effects of human-induced global climate change. It primarily focuses on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with consumption and includes other emissions such as methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

“Carbon footprint: the amount of greenhouse gasses and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period”

Merriam Webster

Although solar energy emits zero to no GHG emissions upon operation, there are emissions associated with other stages of its life cycle including manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, decommissioning, and dismantlement of materials.

On a life-cycle basis, concentrating solar energy emits 38, PV roof solar energy emits 41, and PV utility solar energy emits 48 grams of CO₂ equivalent per kWh of electricity produced. 

Have a look at the illustration below to see the average life-cycle CO₂ equivalent emissions of different energy sources and how they compare to solar energy.

What Role Does Solar Energy Play in Combating Climate Change

Climate change is arguably the most severe, long-term, global impact of fossil fuel combustion. Every year, approximately 37 billion tons of CO₂ are emitted from burning fossil fuels. The carbon found in fossil fuels reacts with oxygen in the air to produce CO₂. This warms the earth by acting as a heating blanket, and a warmer earth comes with a host of negative side effects. 

Using solar energy instead of fossil fuel energy helps mitigate the following negative effects of climate change:

• Increasing temperatures: Earth’s atmosphere has warmed 1.5℃ since 1880. This may not seem like a lot, but these degrees create regional and seasonal temperature extremes, reduce sea ice, intensify rainfall and drought severity, and change habitat ranges for plants and animals.

• Rising sea levels: Global sea levels have increased approximately 8-9 inches since 1880, displacing people living along coastlines and destroying coastal habitats. Roads, bridges, subways, water supplies, oil and gas wells, power plants, sewage treatment plants, and landfills remain at risk if sea level rise goes unchecked. 

• Melting of sea ice: Since 1979, arctic sea ice has declined by 30%. Sea ice plays a major role in regulating the earth’s climate by reflecting sunlight into space and providing habitat for animal species. If all of the glaciers on Earth melted, sea levels would rise by approximately 70 feet, effectively flooding out every coastal city on the planet. 

• Changing precipitation patterns: Extreme weather events (e.g., hurricanes, floods, droughts) are becoming more common and more intense. Storm-affected areas will experience increased precipitation and flooding whereas areas located further from storm tracks will experience decreased precipitation and droughts.

• Ocean acidification: The ocean absorbs 30% of the CO₂ released into the atmosphere, which decreases the pH (increases the acidity) of the ocean. In the past 200 years, the pH of oceans has decreased by 0.1 pH units, which translates to a 30% increase in acidity. Aquatic life unable to adjust to this rapid acidification will die off. A prime example of this is coral bleaching, where coral expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues as a result of changes in temperature, light, or nutrients. 

The more we reduce CO₂ emissions, the more we slow the rate of temperature rise, sea-level rise, ice melting, and ocean acidification. When these rates are slowed, the earth’s biodiversity does not have to struggle to adapt to temperature and pH changes. People will not be displaced due to the flooding of coastal areas. And icebergs will continue to provide climate regulation. 

To help keep global temperature rise below 1.5C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, we must shift at least 80% of our electricity generation to low carbon sources. Over 120 countries have already stated their net-zero carbon emissions ambitions for 2050 or 2060. But only 12 countries have thus far proposed or enacted any legislation, indicating that there is more work to be done.

How Clean Is Solar Energy

Overall, solar energy is considered to be clean energy. 

“Clean energy: energy, as electricity or nuclear power, that does not pollute the atmosphere when used, as opposed to coal and oil”

Collins Dictionary

Solar energy produces virtually no greenhouse gasses or any other kind of environmental pollution upon its operation.

How Sustainable Is Solar Energy

Overall, solar energy is considered to be sustainable energy.

“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”

Oxford Dictionary

Solar energy meets the needs of our current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

How Renewable Is Solar Energy

Overall, solar energy is considered to be renewable energy.

“Renewable Energy: energy that is produced using the sun, wind, etc., or from crops, rather than using fuels such as oil or coal | types of energy that can be replaced naturally such as energy produced from wind or water”

Cambridge Dictionary

Solar energy is flow-limited, naturally replenishing, virtually inexhaustible, and limited in the amount of energy available in a set amount of time. 

How Environmentally Friendly Is Solar Energy

Overall, solar energy is considered to be environmentally friendly.

“Environmentally friendly: (of products) not harming the environment.”

Cambridge Dictionary

Solar energy does just as the word implies, it has a minimal, negative impact on the environment.

How Safe or Dangerous Is Solar Energy

Overall, solar energy is not considered to be dangerous. Holistically and throughout its life cycle, solar is safe and beneficial for human and animal health, the environment, and the energy grid. It is also significantly safer than fossil fuels and other types of renewable energy.

Here’s How Safe Solar Energy Is

Overall, solar energy is a safe form of energy regarding human and animal health, the environment, the energy grid, and throughout all stages of its life cycle.

Here’s How Dangerous Solar Energy Is

Overall, solar energy is considered minimally dangerous in terms of human and animal health, the environment, the energy grid, and through all stages of its life cycle. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, solar energy is considered to be green because it has a low to zero-emissions profile and carbon footprint reductions that provide the highest environmental benefits. There are very few CO₂ emissions or waste products associated with operating and maintaining solar energy, and proper siting, monitoring, maintenance, and disposal of solar materials significantly mitigates its effects on the environment.

Green energy is poised to see continued growth in the future as we look to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming. As we look towards a future powered by renewables, solar energy is predicted to continue increasing in capacity because it benefits both our atmosphere and Earth’s biota. 

Stay impactful,

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