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Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2020

Do solar panels produce at least as much energy as it takes to manufacture them?

Mikayla Campbell, Gigafact
yes

Over time, solar panels produce more energy than they take to build.

Once a solar panel system is built, it doesn't take any energy to operate. But the photovoltaic systems do take energy to manufacture them, so it's useful to measure their "energy payback." A federal laboratory defines that as "how long a PV system must operate to recover the energy—and associated generation of pollution and CO2—that went into making the system in the first place."

An Environmental Science & Technology study finds that most solar panels' energy payback is 4 years or less. Assuming a likely 30-year system life, the panels will provide a net gain of at least 26 years.

The study also finds that as the technology continues to improve the payback period will continue to decrease.

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