Solar - Energy Policy Analysis: A Conceptual Framework - page 109

Overall, active solar space heating technologies require more use of hazardous materials during
manufacture and operation than passive solar technologies; concentrating solar technologies require
more use of hazardous materials than nonconcentrating solar technologies; and solar power plants
entail more use of hazardous materials than solar photovoltaic technologies. Photovoltaic tech-
nologies entail use of hazardous materials only during production of solar cells and arrays, but not
during their operation, greatly limiting areas of potential contamination. Thus, the only pollutants
associated with the use of solar power are those involved in the construction and transportation of
its parts (USDOE, USDOI, and ANL 2011; Tsoutsos, Frantzeskaki, and Gekas 2005).
Other Concerns
Concentrating solar power systems might potentially cause interference with aircraft opera-
tions if reflected light beams become misdirected into aircraft pathways. However, this would
not occur under normal operating circumstances, would likely be limited to areas near airports,
and would be unlikely to interfere with aircraft instrumentation in use today. Operation of solar
energy facilities, and especially concentrating solar power facilities, involves high temperatures
that may pose an occupational safety risk to employees. Construction and decommissioning of
utility-scale solar energy facilities would involve a variety of familiar possible impacts normally
encountered during construction and decommissioning of large-scale industrial facilities and are
therefore manageable.
Most photovoltaic cells are currently made of silicon, one of the most common minerals found
on this planet. Producing the components is extremely easy and does not require mining or drill-
ing in dangerous locales. However, silicon dust is a harmful substance when inhaled, especially
over long periods of time. Exposure to this dust in a manufacturing environment can result in a
lung disease called silicosis, which causes scar tissue to form in the lungs, reducing the lungs'
capacity to process oxygen (USDOE, USDOI, and ANL 2011). Such exposure, therefore, must
be controlled during the manufacturing process.
Like all bulk electric power generating facilities, solar power plants produce electric and
magnetic fields. Modern solar energy systems use components that radiate high levels of radio-
frequency electromagnetic radiation, which may pose health risks to persons with electromagnetic
hypersensitivity (EHS). The primary health hazard involved with solar energy generation is that
people with EHS may get ill from electromagnetic radiation in very small amounts. Such a health
problem may be triggered by small frequencies from cell phones, computers, and other electronic
appliances. The production of solar energy may further aggravate this situation for a relatively
small portion of the population.
Operation of solar energy technologies produces no air or water pollution and no greenhouse
gases. Manufacture of solar energy facilities entails no more, and often less, disposal of solid and
hazardous waste materials than construction of any other energy supply technology. The envi-
ronmental impact from use of photovoltaic electricity is minimal, requiring no water for system
cooling and generating no by-products (USEIA 2011e).
Dollar Costs of Utilizing Solar Power
The market cost to consumers for purchase of solar photovoltaic modules in calendar year 2009
was estimated at a bit less than $3.58 billion for almost 1.3 million peak kilowatts (USEIA 2011a,
Table 10.8). The value of electricity generated from photovoltaic modules was a little over $80
million in 2009 and about $116 million in 2010 (calculated from USEIA 2011a, Table 8.2c, Table