Transportation plays a significant role in the overall carbon footprint of solar panels, adding to the emissions generated beyond just their manufacturing process.
Impact of Transportation on Solar Panel Carbon Footprint:
- Most solar panels are manufactured in China, while major markets like Europe and North America demand large quantities. This necessitates extensive shipping across long distances, primarily by cargo ships and trucks.
- Shipping solar panels from places like Shanghai to Los Angeles emits substantial CO2 due to the fuel burned during long international voyages.
- After overseas shipment, panels often undergo further overland transportation by trucks to reach the final installation site, which adds additional CO2 emissions.
- The cumulative transportation phase — including shipping, trucking, and onsite delivery — contributes a notable portion of the embodied carbon in solar panels, impacting their overall lifecycle emissions profile.
Summary:
While solar panels themselves generate clean energy during operation, their embodied carbon footprint is influenced by the emissions from transporting them globally. This includes international shipping (high CO2 emissions due to fuel use), overland trucking, and onsite logistics. Reducing transportation distances or optimizing logistics can help lower this component of their carbon footprint.
Thus, transportation is a critical factor that should be considered when assessing the total environmental impact of solar panels.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-role-does-transportation-play-in-the-overall-carbon-footprint-of-solar-panels/
