However studies have shown that after about 3 years of use solar panels produce as much energy as was used throughout their production and installation process.
Fossil fuel used in manufacturing solar panels.
In comparison while making equipment for solar systems may involve fossil fuels once the solar system is in place and working there are no emissions.
How is solar energy harnessed.
Even more importantly as long as the sun shines there is endless energy to harness.
But the process of making the various components requires fossil fuels both for power and for the components themselves some of which are based on petroleum.
A new company biosolar aims to kick.
Solar energy is a clean energy.
Another way to compare fossil fuels and solar power is by how much energy can be extracted and stored for electricity.
Solar panels have little metal edges around the panels.
This polluting cycle is continuous yet fossil fuel abundance is not.
The metal train cars and the metal railroad tracks that are used to truck that coal by rail that runs across the country from wyoming to fuel the coal plant in pennsylvania all those things made of metal take energy to make.
To further refine the oil more machinery is needed.
Unlike energy from fossil fuels such as oil coal and gas the generation of electricity by so called photovoltaic pv panels does not release planet harming carbon dioxide.
Anything made of metal takes lots of energy to make.
The cost of solar pv is now at 10 per kilowatt hour versus electricity from fossil fuels that typically is between 05 and 17 per kilowatt hour.
Fabricating the panels requires caustic chemicals such as sodium hydroxide and hydrofluoric acid and the process uses water as well as electricity the production of which emits greenhouse gases.