Green or not? Environmental challenges from photovoltaic technology

Haiyan Zhang; Zhigang Yu; Chengcheng Zhu; Ruiqiang Yang; Bing Yan; Guibin Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121066

Green or not? Environmental challenges from photovoltaic technology

Environ Pollut. 2023 Mar 1:320:121066. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121066. Epub 2023 Jan 10.

Authors

Haiyan Zhang¹, Zhigang Yu¹, Chengcheng Zhu¹, Ruiqiang Yang², Bing Yan³, Guibin Jiang⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
² School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China. Electronic address: rqyang@rcees.ac.cn.
³ Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
⁴ School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.

PMID: 36639047
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121066

Abstract

The booming demands for energy and the drive towards low-carbon energy sources have prompted a worldwide emerging constructions of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facilities. Compared with fossil-based electrical power system, PV solar energy has significantly lower pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. However, PV solar technology are not free of adverse environmental consequences such as biodiversity and habitat loss, climatic effects, resource consumption, and disposal of massive end-of-life PV panels. This review highlights the benefits and potential environmental impacts of implementing PV technologies. To the end, some proposals are recommended to improve this new technology's sustainability.

Keywords: End-of-life PV panels; Environmental benefits; Negligible effects; Photovoltaic solar energy; Sustainable development.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Energy-Generating Resources
Environment
Greenhouse Gases*
Solar Energy*
Technology

Substances

Greenhouse Gases