Solar power produces no pollution, which is a by-product of non-renewable energy consumption and one of the biggest global killers.
Analysis published in the American Economic Review calculated that the economic damage caused by air pollutants from coal burning (in terms of health impacts and local pollution) exceeds the value of the electricity produced.
One of the biggest benefits of solar energy is that it results in very few air pollutants. Widespread solar adoption would significantly reduce nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter emissions, all of which can cause health problems such as respiratory (asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic lung issues) and cardiovascular issues.
China is the world’s leading solar producer and seeks to triple its capacity by 2020. These goals are largely tied to the fact that China’s air pollution makes it almost impossible for citizens to breathe in cities like Shanghai and Beijing.
A household rooftop solar panel system can reduce pollution by 100 tons of CO2 in its lifetime — including the energy it took to manufacture the solar panels. This can improve future air quality for humans as well as the millions of birds, fish, and mammals that are negatively affected by pollution each year.