Does a solar project impact the environment?
No form of energy is free from environmental impact; however, solar energy has among the lowest impacts as it emits no air or water pollution.
Protecting wildlife and sensitive natural habitats is a priority for NextEra Energy Resources.
As part of our development process, we conduct thorough wildlife studies and ensure each site complies with all local, state and federal environmental regulations.
What are solar panels made of?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels typically consist of glass, polymer, aluminum, copper and semiconductor materials that can be recovered and recycled at the end of their useful life.
To provide decades of corrosion-free operation, solar cells are encapsulated from air and moisture between two layers of plastic, with a layer of tempered glass and a polymer sheet or industrial laminate. In the same way a windshield cracks but stays intact, a damaged solar cell does not generally create small pieces of debris.
Crystalline silicon panels represent approximately 90 percent of solar panels in use today. Research has shown they “do not pose a material risk or toxicity to public health and safety.”1
Thin-film solar panels represent a small percentage of panels in use today; some use a stable compound called cadmium telluride or other semi-conductor materials. Research has shown the tiny amount of cadmium in these panels does not pose a health or safety risk.2