By Shankar Sharma
19 Oct 2010
If we consider the ‘life cycle analysis’ of the costs and the impacts of various energy technologies available to us, solar power technology remains the best possible energy source.
India can rely on solar power from the roof top solar PV systems
A recent article on National Solar Mission (http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1375 ) on d-sector.org by highlighting certain environmental impacts of solar power has in effect conveyed a negative message to the readers on solar power technology which in reality may do more harm than benefit to the society. There have been few other articles also appearing in the media, which while highlighting the environmental impacts of solar power technology, could have been viewed as more objective if they had compared the overall socio-environmental impacts of other energy source technologies with solar power technology. In this regard, a holistic approach including the life cycle analysis of social and environmental impacts is highly essential.
It goes without saying that any action by the human beings will have some or the other deleterious impacts on the nature/environment. So we have to take a very cautious approach such that the overall impact on the environment is minimum while meeting the essential needs of the society. Towards this end we need to consider the “life cycle analysis” of the costs and the impacts of various energy technologies available to us.
In this regard can we say that energy technologies based on fossil fuels, including nuclear fuels, or hydro dams are better than the solar power? In case of solar power technology almost all of the environmental issues are limited to the manufacturing stage of the solar PV panels; and in other stages of its life cycle the impacts are negligible. With concerted efforts the impact on the society/environment can be minimised even in the manufacturing stage of the solar PV panels. Since all these impacts are in one location (of manufacturing) it is much easier to monitor and control.
Can we say so in the case of conventional power technologies? The impacts on society/ environment throughout the life cycle, starting from mining /dam construction till the obsolete power plant structures are decommissioned, are huge, and almost impossible to be eliminated. In case of nuclear power plants, the burden on the society in the form of spent nuclear fuel will go on for tens of generations whereas the benefit goes to only one generation. Conventional power technologies emit almost all the pollutants associated with solar power technology, and many more such as mercury, radio active elements, Green House Gases etc.
More @ http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1401
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