Environmental Impacts of the Solar Photovoltaic Systems in the Context of Globalization

Abstract

Solar photovoltaics systems (PV) deliver substantial benefits to the environmental when compared with the conventional energy sources, hence supporting to the human activities ecological benefits with sustainable development. To maintain the quality of the environment at the same time, technological innovations are very much essential to cater the needs of more electrical power according to the demand, decreasing carbon emission by replacing the carbon releasing fossil fuels with the renewable energy. Installation of such facilities require lakhs acres of land globally and thus leads to number of various ecological issues. This paper presents the insight to various environmental issues. Some of the issues are with respect to land, health of human beings, animals, plant lives and environment are presented in this paper. In terms of numbers, the area of land required for a PV system is less or same per kWh power generated, when compared with a thermal power station. Deforestation for installation of solar PV systems is one of the major drawback as it leads to enormous environmental impacts. This paper analyses effects on the environment due to the usage of solar PV systems like, at the time of construction, installation and also at the time of destruction, sound and visual in-cursions, air, water and soil pollution, emission of greenhouse gases, effects on archaeological sites accidents to unskilled labor, and various socio-economic impacts. Subsequently, reduction in greenhouse effect, carbon footprints, global warming, ozone layer depletion, climate change and acid rains are some of the positive impacts during transition to green energy, i.e., usage of fuels from fossil fuels to solar energy at regional level, national level and global level. This paper outlines the pros and cons, positive and negative environmental impacts, by using solar PV systems to generate electrical power.