Abstract

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, trap heat and energy, thus preventing solar radiation from escaping back into space. As the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases so does the trapped heat and corresponding global temperature. As a result, storms become more violent, droughts more prevalent, glaciers melt, and sea levels rise, to name but a few effects of a rapidly changing climate. These unfavorable climate changes observed for many years have provided an incentive for the development of renewable energy sources, in particular those technologies, that serve the production of electricity. The use of photovoltaic modules to convert solar radiation into electricity results in a reduction of harmful GHGs, characteristic of traditional fossil fuel technologies, and furthermore, leads to economic benefits and independence of energy supplies. Analyzing the complete life cycle of photovoltaic modules: the process of production, operation, and the recycling of solar cell panels and ancillary components, one can demonstrate obvious environmental benefits, justifying not only the costs of photovoltaic technology development, but also government's actions in support of solar panels. Depending on the technology used, the production phase of photovoltaic modules does burden the environment to varying degrees, but overall there are incomparable gains to be made by exploiting photovoltaic systems for electricity production. Waste management and the re-use of valuable materials can also significantly improve the final environmental balance. As the photovoltaic market is still growing, it is important at this stage, to assess the long-term impact of PV technology on the natural environment. In this chapter, the impacts of using photovoltaic solar modules for energy production on the natural environment, are discussed.

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