Are solar panels bad for the environment? The truth is they’re helping

A lot has been said about solar energy lately—and not all of it’s true. For homeowners, it can sometimes be tough to separate fact from fiction. Is solar a scam, as some critics suggest? Does the manufacturing process erase its environmental benefits?

The short answer to both of these questions is a resounding no. Solar is a proven, reliable technology. It’s not a scam; it’s a cornerstone of the country’s clean energy transition and one of the most effective tools we have to shrink the energy sector’s carbon footprint—along with the carbon footprint of many other industries.

Still, that doesn’t mean panels are impact-free. Like any manufactured product, it takes energy and industrial materials to produce them efficiently and at scale. However, those impacts are more manageable than those of other similar industries, and solar has made major progress in cleaning up its supply chain.

“We’re aware of the environmental impacts, and we're holding ourselves accountable as an industry,” George McClellan, senior manager of technical sales at REC Group, told EnergySage. “The industry is moving in the right direction. We've made great strides.”

“Most solar panels don’t have any materials or chemicals that exceed the EPA toxicity levels,” he said. “There can be a tiny amount of lead in some panels, but it’s typically below the threshold limit set by the EPA.” 

What matters most is the net environmental payoff. Once installed, solar panels don’t release harmful substances, generate clean electricity for 25+ years, and are backed by ongoing improvements in manufacturing and recycling practices.

Yes, making solar panels has an environmental impact, just like manufacturing any other product. Solar cells, or the part of a solar panel that actually generates electricity, start as silicon, which comes from heated quartz. This manufacturing process involves chemicals that can be harmful if not handled properly—the key phrase being, “if not handled properly."

“It’s not so much that the cell is problematic as the processing is. It uses a lot of energy and water,” McClellan said, noting that this process also contributes to removing hazardous materials from entering the environment. 

One of the biggest concerns is silicon tetrachloride. If dumped carelessly, this chemical can cause burns and air pollution. Fortunately, it pays off for manufacturers to recycle this back into new solar panels because it saves them money. It's a win-win situation where doing the right thing also makes financial sense.  

“It’s important to understand whether the company has good stewardship,” McClellan said. “You need to make sure that you're not working with companies that are less than aboveboard with reporting. It's got to be transparent.”

Research shows that a single solar panel only takes about three years to offset the emissions from its production and transportation, thanks to its renewable electricity generation. Since panels last 25 to 30 years, that provides decades of completely carbon-free energy production.

Today’s solar industry looks very different than it did in its early decades. Twenty years ago, lead was much more widely used in solar panel manufacturing, and improper waste disposal raised legitimate concerns, especially in countries with weaker regulations. 

“There’s been a big wave of consciousness around [the environmental impact of manufacturing] over the past five years. We're now manufacturing in a less toxic fashion,” McClellan said.

“As an industry, we’re moving towards understanding the environmental impacts of manufacturing, as well as post-manufacturing and end-of-life effects. That wasn't understood as well twenty years ago when I jumped into this industry,” he said.

While a better awareness of the materials and chemicals used in the making of solar panels has lessened their impact on the environment, solar panel disposal is still a cause for concern to many people. Historically, landfills have been the cheaper and easier way to dispose of decommissioned solar panels, which poses a toxic waste problem. But contrary to popular belief, it’s a problem we can manage. 

"[Solar cell] waste is very manageable and should not delay deployment—it's not a reason to slow down," Teresa Barnes, director of the Durable Module Materials (DuraMAT) Consortium, said to NREL in an interview. "We will have less waste from [solar panels] than we do from traditional fossil sources of electricity, and it's less toxic than some of the other fossil energy waste. These end-of-life [solar cell] materials are something we can handle."

Recycling solar panels at the end of their lifespan is becoming increasingly common. Some manufacturers, like REC and Qcells, already offer recycling programs for their customers. As solar adoption grows, recycling programs and specialized companies are expected to expand and become a standard part of the industry.

Solar panels are safe, clean, and one of the smartest investments you can make for both the environment and your wallet. Manufacturing involves some chemicals, but the industry has largely addressed these concerns through improved practices and oversight.

Once those panels are generating electricity on your roof, they'll produce clean energy for decades with zero emissions. Their manufacturing footprint gets paid back quickly through clean energy production, especially as solar technology keeps improving.

As McClellan puts it, “The benefits are going to continue to grow, and the environmental cost will continue to shrink. We're moving in the right direction on both.”