Examining the Environmental Impact of Solar Panels

Solar power is cleaner than fossil fuels, but its environmental costs need smarter, safer solutions.

• By Daniyal Shahid
• Apr 04, 2025

Solar energy looks like a clean and safe power source, but is it really as green as people say? Making solar panels creates pollution and uses harmful chemicals. For instance, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that by 2050, discarded solar panels could amount to 78 million tons of waste globally. When these panels get old, recycling them is expensive and difficult, so many end up as waste. The materials used in solar panels also come from mining, which can harm the environment and workers. While solar power is still better than coal or gas, it has problems we cannot ignore. To make it truly eco-friendly, we need better ways to recycle, safer production methods, and fair use of natural resources.

The Hidden Environmental Costs of Solar Panels

While solar power is seen as clean energy, its production process has hidden environmental costs. Here is what many do not know:

Pollution from Manufacturing: Making solar panels requires mining materials like silicon, silver, and lithium. This process causes land damage, water pollution, and carbon emissions. Factories that produce panels also use substantial amounts of electricity, often from fossil fuels.

Toxic Chemicals & Waste: The production of solar panels involves harmful chemicals like lead and cadmium. Each standard solar panel contains approximately 14 grams of lead, contributing to an estimated 4,400 tons used globally for solar panels installed in 2018. If not handled properly, these can leak into the environment, harming soil, and water. When old panels break or are thrown away, these toxic materials create hazardous waste.

Carbon Footprint Concerns: While solar panels do not release pollution when generating power, their overall carbon footprint is not zero. From mining to manufacturing and transportation, the process releases greenhouse gases. Studies show it can take 2-3 years for a solar panel to offset the emissions created during its production. Despite this, producing electricity from solar cells reduces air pollutants by about 90% compared to fossil fuels.

The Recycling Problem: What Happens When Panels Die?

Solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, but what happens when they stop working? The truth is, most old panels end up in landfills, creating a growing waste problem. Since millions of panels are being installed worldwide, solar waste is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years. Unlike other electronic waste, solar panels contain toxic materials like lead and cadmium, which can leak into the environment if not disposed of properly.

Recycling solar panels sounds like a simple solution, but it is much harder than it seems. Panels are made of different materials tightly fused together, making separation, and recycling difficult and expensive. Currently, only a small percentage of panels are properly recycled because most countries lack the infrastructure to do it efficiently. As a result, many companies and homeowners find it cheaper to throw them away rather than recycle them.

The biggest question is who will pay for recycling? Right now, the cost falls on manufacturers, governments, or customers, making it an expensive challenge. Without proper policies and investment in recycling technology, the solar industry may create more environmental harm than expected. To truly call solar energy “green,” better waste management and recycling solutions are urgently needed.

Ethical & Social Concerns: The Other Side of Solar Energy

Solar panels rely on materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals, which are obtained through mining. This mining process often leads to environmental damage, such as land destruction, water pollution, and deforestation. For example, lithium mining emits nearly 15 tons of CO₂ per ton of lithium mined, while the brine extraction process consumes hundreds of millions of gallons of fresh water annually. In some regions, it also involves exploitation, with workers. Sometimes even children working in dangerous conditions for low pay. The pollution caused by mining also affects local communities, raising ethical concerns about the actual cost of solar energy.

Additionally, large solar farms can have negative effects on the environment. They require vast amounts of land, which can replace forests, farmland, or habitats for wildlife. While solar power helps fight climate change, the land used for solar farms might also harm local ecosystems. To make solar truly sustainable, it is important to address both the environmental and social impacts of the materials and land used for solar energy.

Finding the Balance: Can Solar Be Truly Sustainable?

Solar power has the potential to be a truly sustainable energy source, but there are challenges that need to be addressed. Here is how the solar industry is moving towards a greener future:

Innovations in Eco Friendly Solar Panel Production

New technologies are making solar panels more eco-friendly. Companies are working on using cleaner materials, reducing the use of toxic chemicals, and improving energy efficiency during manufacturing. Some companies are even developing panels made from recycled materials, helping to cut down on waste and resource use. These innovations could make solar energy production much more sustainable.

The Future of Solar Recycling: A Solution in the Making?

Recycling solar panels is one of the biggest challenges today. However, research is underway to make recycling more efficient and cost-effective. New methods are being developed to extract valuable materials like silicon, silver, and rare earth metals, reducing the need for new mining. While the recycling industry is still in its early stages, there is hope that, in the future, we will be able to recycle solar panels at scale and keep them out of landfills.

Choosing the Right Path: How to Make Solar Energy Greener

To make solar energy truly green, we need to focus on several key areas. First, we should continue to improve the sustainability of production methods. This includes using renewable energy in the manufacturing process. Second, better recycling systems must be put in place to handle panels at the end of their life. Finally, we need to ensure that solar farms are built responsibly, minimizing environmental impact, and preserving natural habitats. By working on these solutions, solar energy can become as sustainable as it promises.

Conclusion: Is Solar Power Really Green?

Solar energy is often seen as the solution to a cleaner, greener future. But is it as eco-friendly as we think? Let us take a closer look at the pros and cons of solar energy in the real world:

Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Pros	Cons
Renewable & Endless: Solar energy comes from the sun, which means it will not run out.	Manufacturing Pollution: The production of solar panels uses energy and materials that cause pollution.
Reduces Carbon Emissions: Solar panels produce no emissions while generating power.	Toxic Materials: Solar panels contain materials like cadmium and lead, which can be harmful if not disposed of properly.
Lower Energy Bills: Solar panels can reduce electricity costs and offer energy independence.	Waste Issue: Old panels are hard to recycle and can end up in landfills, contributing to waste.
Job Creation: The solar industry creates jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance.	Land Use: Large solar farms can take up a lot of land, sometimes disrupting natural habitats.

What Needs to Change for Solar to Be a True Green Solution?

While solar energy has significant benefits, it still has its downsides. To make it a true green solution, we need to focus on improving the manufacturing process to reduce pollution, make recycling easier, and minimize the environmental impact of solar farms. With ongoing innovation, solar power can become more sustainable and live up to its promise of clean energy.