Solar energy has long been touted as better for the environment than fossil fuels.
How much pollution does solar panels make.
Irena projected that this amount.
Although solar energy is a clean alternative to fossil fuels making the panels themselves can have a negative environmental impact.
Solar power reduces pollution.
Workers install solar panels in california.
The international renewable energy agency irena in 2016 estimated there was about 250 000 metric tonnes of solar panel waste in the world at the end of that year.
Based on installed capacity and power related weight we can estimate that by 2016 photovoltaics had spread about 11 000 tons of lead and about 800 tons of cadmium.
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A hazard summary of cadmium compounds produced by the epa points out that exposure to cadmium can lead to serious lung irritation and long lasting impairment of pulmonary functions.
The overall greenhouse gas emissions involved in solar energy is still much lower than coal or natural gas.