A primary concern about
solar power always existed in the manufacturing. Even if
solar panels can produce clean power, do we burn
enough in fossil fuels in their manufacturing (via both materials and
energy) that over their lifecycle, they are worse than coal?
For a long time,
the answer to this question was ambiguous. But recently, a new study has come out that assures us that
solar panels are definitively cleaner than
carbon sources over the lifetime of their use.
To top it off, many solar panel manufacturers are starting to close the renewables loop and power the production of their facilities with....you guessed it....solar power. They call this a "breeder" cycle.
So investigate your upcoming solar
project with confidence!
You can read more at:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=solar-cells-prove-cleaner-way-to-produce-power&sc=atbr