How solar helps lower greenhouse emissions

The obvious effects of climate change are driving the move to renewable energy sources. Solar power could deliver $400 billion in environmental and public health benefits throughout the United States by 2050, according to a study from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). "We find that a U.S. electric system in which solar plays a major role--supplying 14% of demand in 2030, and 27% in 2050--would result in enduring environmental and health benefits. Moreover, we find that the existing fleet of solar plants is already offering a down-payment towards those benefits and that there are sizable regional differences in the benefits," said Ryan Wiser of Berkeley Lab's Energy Technologies Area.

The monetary value of greenhouse gas reductions

The total financial value of the greenhouse gas and air pollution benefits of the high-penetration solar plan exceeds $400 billion in present-value terms under central assumptions The existing end-of-2014 fleet of solar power projects, recent annual benefits equal more than $1.5 billion under current projections.

The new study follows up on that work by evaluating the greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions reductions, air-pollution health and environmental effects, and water-use reductions from large amounts of solar. As Trieu Mai from NREL explains, "This study augments the original DOE report by attaching specific numbers to the benefits of solar energy. It also assesses the benefits already being delivered by the existing fleet of solar projects. Importantly, we take great care to describe our methods and highlight underlying uncertainties."

Benefits of the Existing Fleet of Solar Projects

The study finds that the 20 gigawatts (GW) of solar installed as of the end of 2014 is already reducing annual GHGs by 17 million metric tons, worth about $700 million per year is valued with a central estimate of the "social cost of carbon" -- the Obama Administration's estimate of the long-term damage done by one ton of carbon emissions. Over fifty percent of these benefits come from emissions reductions in California alone
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Solar is also reducing conventional air pollutants from power plants -- sulfur, nitrogen, and particulates -- and the corresponding health benefits are greatest in the eastern United States. Overall, the health and environmental benefits of this pollution reduction are worth an estimated $890 million from avoiding premature mortality and a range of other negative health outcomes. "The East has more coal-fired power generation than the rest of the country, and therefore sees greater benefits in reducing conventional pollutants," explained Wiser, the lead author of the study.

Benefits of a solar energy future

Looking ahead decades, with solar growing to 14% of demand by 2030 and 27% by 2050, the study finds GHG reductions of 13% in 2030 and 18% in 2050, compared to a scenario of no new solar. These emission reductions are worth about $259 billion in reduced global climate damages based on central estimates, or 2.2 cents per kWh of solar.

Solar power reduces water usage

Lastly, solar power reduces water use by power plants. Relative to the baseline scenario, achieving the SunShot Vision scenario reduces power-sector water withdrawals by 8% in 2030 and 5% in 2050, while water consumption is reduced by 10% in 2030 and 16% in 2050. States that are sunny, but drought-prone and dry like California and Arizona are among those with the largest reductions in water use.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system!

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years. 

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.