Environmental Effects of Solar PV Generation
Environmental effects of solar PV generation are mainly limited to land use, interference with wildlife, and an emerging issue – end-of-life disposal. Energy production from solar PV plants does not contribute to the release of greenhouse gases.
An environmental concern is the proper disposal of solar panels at the end of their useful life. Solar panels contain certain hazardous materials that if disposed of improperly, could potentially pose a risk to the environment. The primary concern for toxicity is the cadmium and lead in the panels. However, panels are mostly comprised of glass, aluminum, and plastics – with very little lead or cadmium (depending on the technology) – and these components encapsulate the limited amount of lead and protect it from the environmental and harsh weather conditions. Thus, even when disposed of in a landfill, there is very minimal risk of toxicity. While the solar PV fleet is still rather new in the Pacific Northwest, other areas in the United States with older, larger deployments of solar PV are beginning to face the end of useful life. Manufacturers, scientists, and researchers are exploring developing dedicated PV panel recycling plants to salvage the maximum amount of materials.
Much of the land and wildlife effects are mitigated during the siting and licensing of solar PV projects, although the effects of a significant deployment of solar PV in a short amount of time is not yet fully understood. See the presentation on this topic at the June 2021 Council Meeting.