What are solar energy's environmental impacts?

Question

What are solar energy's environmental impacts?

Answer 1

You mean as a detriment? Very little, really. Just placing them

Answer 2

Using land -- can be mitigated by placing them in places with NO ecological activities (there are plenty of deserts) and on previously developed areas (imagine all the space devoted just to PARKING in the U.S.)

Manufacturing -- can be improved by improving factory standards, an issue of cost

Silicon -- currently produced using coal, but solar energy still produces much more energy than it takes to make. Electrolysis (with CLEAN energy) is possible and may become cost-effective over time after a carbon tax is instigated.  Carbon capture storage can also mitigate the problem.  

Resources usage -- currently uses silicon, which can be made from sand, which is so abundant that we are morons if we run out of it.  Other solar panels use rare metals, which raise concerns of resource depletion; however, the impact of these rare metals has not yet been discussed in much detail.

Is Solar Power perfect?  No.

Is it worth the costs?  Certainly.

Answer 3

the main impact would be in there production after that merely placing them out roof top are a good start as they are a good place to install them and it isn't using farm land