in wat ways does solar power help with the worlds' pollution problem....i'm just really curious in how it helps
2007-12-08 13:29:43 · 9 answers · asked by SR71Blackbird18 1 in Environment ➔ Green Living
Most electricity is generated by coal powered plants. Which do their share of polluting. When you use solar, you lessen the demand for coal powered energy.
2007-12-08 13:38:54 · answer #1 · answered by 109 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, let's see. First we need to mine and refine the materials needed to use solar power. Are we talking solar-to-heat or solar-to-electricity?
If solar-to-heat, we must also keep the pipes exposed to the sun clean or the heat absorption will drop way down. That means cleaning fluids and rags. Where do the chemicals and used rags go? Maintenance will be needed to replace failing parts. Hopefully, the old parts will be recycled.
If solar-to-electricity direct conversion is under construction, the mining and refining involves a number of very poisonous minerals, like arsenic and cadmium. The waste streams from the manufacturing plants will require extensive cleaning and recycle of hazardous materials. Like the solar-to-power system, this one will also require similar cleaning. What will be done with the arsenic, etc., when the units eventually fail? Will they be recycled or will the hazardous materials just be sent to a dump?
How long will it take for the units to return the amount of energy that it took to construct and maintain them? If they never do, they will actually be an additional burden on the pollution problem.
2007-12-08 17:02:07 · answer #2 · answered by MICHAEL R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where does the trillions of dollars needed to build these new solar thermal power plants come from? How do we get the power from north Africa to Europe, or from the US Southwest to the rest of North America, or the outback to coastal Australia etc... What do we do with the billion cars that are now useless since we don't have gas to run them, because all this new energy is electric? Why should anyone sacrifice now for some future utopia of free and abundant energy when their neighbor will just consume any resources saved by their sacrifice and prevent any progress in the end? Those are the sorts of questions that will lead you to the answer to your own question.
2016-05-22 05:59:49 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solar power generates NO waste stream, no pollution. It is absolutely clean (at least until the panels wear out in 20-30- years and you have to recycle them.)
2007-12-08 13:46:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because electricty is made from coal powered plants--like the first answer says--which pollutes the air. If you use solar power all you are doing is harnessing energy from the sun and then using it which doesn't release any emissions.
2007-12-08 13:41:06 · answer #5 · answered by Springsteen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If everyone used solar power, we could shut down coal and oil factories. Yeah, thousands of people would lose their jobs, but we would have a lot less pollution.
2007-12-08 15:31:07 · answer #6 · answered by Joseph 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing to consider is the energy required to make a solar panel including production of materials assembly transport sales installation and whether it(the panel) will ever replace that energy.
2007-12-08 15:25:47 · answer #7 · answered by Goanna Dundee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solar can be used for producing heat and electricity in place of producing it from fossil fuels power plants.
It works great, but is very expensive compared to electricity is the main reason it is not used more.
2007-12-08 14:00:59 · answer #8 · answered by GABY 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yet,3rd answer, RECYCLING doesn't harm the environment lol
solar panels help the pollution problem by eliminating the need for garbage burning plants, coal factories, stuff like that.
2007-12-08 14:12:53 · answer #9 · answered by jon b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋