Summary Solar power and coal are closely interlinked. Today, there is not one single solar panel that can be produced without coal (or even oil and gas). The coal is required as a reducing agent for silicon making and as source for heat and electricity for the industrial process required to manufacture solar panels, not only in China.
Patrick Pleul / picture alliance via Getty Images Recently shuttered coal mines around the world can have new life as solar farms, potentially adding nearly 300 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy by 2030, a first-of-its-kind analysis by researchers from Global Energy Monitor (GEM) has found.
Coal is used to make solar panels in a few different ways. First, coal is used as a raw material to produce the chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Second, coal is used to produce the solar panels themselves. The process of making solar panels requires a lot of energy, and coal is one of the most energy-dense forms of fuel.
Renewable energies like solar panels require so much coal to produce the same amount of energy that 7200-kWh would generate yearly because of its high efficiency and low cost. This allows it to frequently supply enough energy to power a home for an entire year (and even much more).
PDF version includes complete article with source references.
Get technical specifications, application guides, and ROI analysis tools for containerized power stations, portable photovoltaic containers, and microgrid energy storage solutions.
18 Industrial Park Road, Midrand
Johannesburg, South Africa 1685
Sales & General: +27 11 568 3400
Technical Support: +27 82 459 7781
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM SAST
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM SAST