Do fossil fuels release more pollution than solar cells and why should we switch from fossil fuels to solar energy?
My IMPRESSION without good data is that yes, solar energy is a much better alternative to fossil fuels. Fossil fuels never stop polluting. With solar the process is one time and then it produces energy for 25 to 30 years. Then the Si can be recycled. The problem in solar is the processing and refining of the silicon. This takes a lot of energy which often comes from fossil fuel burning power plants or burning fossil fuels directly in the processing plants. To ELIMINATE this problem it is obvious to me that the Si plant should be located next to large solar / wind / ocean tidal fields. Electric power can be used to generate the high temperatures needed to do this. Phase change solar can generate the high temperatures directly with no energy conversion losses from solar to electric power. A plan like this could move Si processing back to the US where I think it started to begin with.
The plant could operate 24/7 if it included wind and tidal power which is available and productive when the sun is not. There are companies like Sumitomo (Japan) that are capable of doing this completely and they are actively looking for US energy projects.
I also have a plan to be able to use the mothballed fossil fuel power plants for clean energy if anyone is interested, just ask.
The environmental impact of solar panel production is minimal compared to the energy they generate. Solar panels require less water consumption and produce fewer carbon emissions than traditional fossil fuels. Solar energy is a more efficient source of power than fossil fuel energy sources and is more environmentally sustainable. It converts the sun's energy into electrical energy and makes use of the greatest, most sustainable resource on the planet, sunlight. Solar energy is a more efficient source of power than fossil fuel energy sources and is more environmentally sustainable. It converts the sun's energy into electrical energy and makes use of the greatest, most sustainable resource on the planet, sunlight. Solar energy does not cause air pollution, water pollution, or greenhouse gases. The sun provides more than enough energy to meet the whole world's energy needs, and unlike fossil fuels, it won't run out anytime soon. As a renewable energy source, the only limitation of solar power is our ability to turn it into electricity efficiently and cost-effectively. To achieve this, solar panels use solar radiation from the sun to generate heat, which is then converted into electricity. This makes solar energy one of the most eco-friendly energy sources available, as it has virtually no effect on the environment and is capable of providing clean energy for homes and businesses. Burning fossil fuels to generate energy releases large amounts of greenhouse gases into the air. Increasing levels of CO2 in the ambient atmosphere is the main driver of global warming. CO2 or carbon emissions trap sun's radiation that causes the rise in temperature. The effectiveness of solar panels can be between 15% to 20%, whereas coal could reach 40% efficiency and natural gas can reach 60 percent efficiency. All fossil fuel energy and coal is used to heat, and is then gone for good. You will need to purchase more panels to produce more energy. As a renewable source of power, solar energy has an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, which is critical to protecting humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. Solar energy can also improve air quality and reduce water use from energy production.
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