When considering the environmental implications of an energy generation method, there is a lot more to think about than just the emissions produced once the system is up and running. A complete analysis should include the environmental costs of making the required equipment and installing it as well. For photovoltaic solar panels that means thinking about where the panel materials come from and how they are made.

When scientists first started thinking seriously about using the power of the sun to generate electricity directly- that is, without using the heat to warm water or air- the photovoltaic solar panels they came up with were able to create a small amount of electricity very cleanly. Emissions from a completed solar PV array were and are effectively zero. However, some of the ‘rare earth minerals’ that were used in the best panels weren’t so friendly. They were hard to find and even harder to get at.

All mining is associated with an environmental cost, and the rare earth minerals used in solar technologies were and are still are very valuable. They are also used in mobile phones, computing devices and some televisions. That demand not only drives panel prices up, but also means more mining and more environmental harm. Over the last few decades rare earth minerals have become increasingly rare and mining operations increasingly extensive.

It’s certainly not all bad news though. Solar PV technology continues to evolve rapidly. Right now, scientists are looking for new ways of developing panels and reducing the demand for rare earth minerals. Solar power generation is also becoming much more efficient, so today’s equipment can deliver far more electricity with fewer panels, less rare earth minerals, and lower environmental impact across the board. Already a green energy source, solar is set to become better and cleaner than ever before.