Is there any pollution in making photovoltaic glass

Photovoltaic glass produces a reflection effect with light reflectivity of approximately 4%, and its reflectance is maximum for infrared light with a wavelength greater than 1200 nm (Wang 2012). Reflected light on the surface of the glass causes light pollution. Light pollution can affect ecological balance.

Materials (Basel). 2023 Apr; 16 (7): 2848. Because of the increasing demand for photovoltaic energy and the generation of end-of-life photovoltaic waste forecast, the feasibility to produce glass substrates for photovoltaic application by recycling photovoltaic glass waste (PVWG) material was analyzed.

Research institutions can address light pollution problems caused by solar panels by studying low-reflectivity photovoltaic glass. In addition, solar panels can affect the Earth's exposure to light and thus indirectly affect the atmosphere.

Compared with fossil-based electrical power system, PV solar energy has significantly lower pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. However, PV solar technology are not free of adverse environmental consequences such as biodiversity and habitat loss, climatic effects, resource consumption, and disposal of massive end-of-life PV panels.

The process of solar photovoltaic produces waste gas (Turconi 2013), which is difficult to eliminate, and wastewater pollutions (Kaygusuz 2009, Kang 2011 and Xiong et al. 2010). A solar photovoltaic system that has exceeded its useful life becomes waste that pollutes the environment.

Solar photovoltaic has not been widely utilized mainly because of the high electricity cost involved. Compared with traditional energy, solar energy has less impact on the environment. The global energy crisis also makes the application of solar photovoltaic technology particularly important.