Most solar companies use their own solar panels to power their panel manufacturing plants so the consumption of fossil fuel derived energy to make panels is now very low and getting lower.
C02 emissions from manufacturing solar panels.
Making and using solar panels emits zero co2 in a 100 renewable energy system.
Here s another way to look at it even using lca life cycle assessment wikipedia.
When you use solar energy in your home you lower your overall greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide and you reduce your carbon footprint.
The second issue is how much greenhouse house gas ghg is avoided by using solar power with the typical focus on carbon dioxide co2 the most.
Solar panels payback the energy in 1.
Energy payback for solar panels is 1 3 years.
The sun provides a tremendous resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or global warming emissions.
So perhaps someday powering photovoltaic panel manufacturing with wind solar and geothermal energy will end concerns about the carbon footprint of photovoltaics.
Water is yet another issue.
By scott cramer although the use of solar panels is green many solar panel manufacturing processes are not.