Do Solar Panels Reduce Co2 Emissions

To create a solar panel caustic materials will emit greenhouse gases.

Do solar panels reduce co2 emissions. Let s do some math some of which we ve covered. For the average five kilowatt residential system that means a reduction of more than 15 000 pounds of co2 every year. Turning you themostat down 3 degrees fahrenheit in the winter and up 3 degrees fahrenheit in the summer will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1 050 pounds per year. One way to reduce carbon emissions is to mitigate fossil fuel electricity production by using renewable energy instead.

By scott cramer although the use of solar panels is green many solar panel manufacturing processes are not. Here in massachusetts the primary source of electricity generation is natural gas which is still a fossil fuel but does have much lower carbon emissions than coal. Solar power ultimately has a carbon footprint as well. A residential solar panel system for example has the capability of providing for the electricity needs of an entire home with about 80 lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels.

While you won t realistically be able to eliminate your home s greenhouse gas emissions entirely solar power goes a long way in shrinking household waste. In general home energy use dips during the spring and fall rises slightly during winter and dramatically. Every 1 kwh of electricity produced here in massachusetts accounts for 0 846 lbs of carbon. This has to be tempered against emission reductions.

Because of this a recent parliamentary paper estimated cradle to grave emissions of solar power in the uk to be 88g co2 kwh whilst noting this will reduce over time. Yes it s true that making solar panels creates carbon dioxide but over the life of a solar installation it produces on average of 30x less co2 than coal power. Residential solar pv systemsare capable of meeting a household s electricity consumption entirely and result in 80 lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels.