Do Solar Products Really Help?

 How good is solar as a renewable energy source? Solar and wind energy sources have been on the up and coming for years. In the Pacific Northwest, we have fields of solar collectors and windmill farms. 

I question how well solar panels and solar-powered products are for our planet. I see solar panel kits on the roofs of neighboring houses, but I wonder if they know the full pros and cons of solar power.

It's no secret that the initial cost of solar panels is high and just to break even can usually take a minimum of 15+ years. Of course, this will vary with each setup. 

Additionally, you need to be located in an area that receives a significant amount of sunlight. 

What I think people might be unaware of, is properly disposing of solar panels. While the useful life of solar panels is around 25 years, they contain toxic metals and shouldn't just be tossed into the landfill with the rest of the garbage.

Cadmium and lead are two extremely toxic metals commonly found in solar panels. In the USA there are regulations that urge responsible recycling and disposal. But in other countries where half of the solar panels are made, there might not be any regulation. This leads to polluted water and damage to the planet.

Once you collected the energy, now you have to store it for use, if you can't use it immediately. The current technology, albeit gaining quickly has produced a cost-efficient battery capable of storing large amounts of energy. The current cost for a top of the line solar battery is about $7,000. A normal house needs about 3 batteries to operate a full day. 

On top of that, there are questions about how environmentally friendly it is to manufacturer a Tesla battery.  

Harnessing the power of the sun is great. But the cost of solar is still high, and the efficiencies are still a work in progress. As fast as innovation has been for the past 50 years, I have no doubt that we'll be able to use the sun's energy to help power our planet, but right now more research and design is needed.