Here s another way to look at it even using lca life cycle assessment wikipedia.
Carbon footprint of solar panel manufacturing.
To create a solar panel caustic materials will emit greenhouse gases.
Making and using solar panels emits zero co2 in a 100 renewable energy system.
Energy payback for solar panels is 1 3 years.
The production of photovoltaic panels still has an important carbon footprint and creates a series of waste liquid and gaseous by products that are harmful to the environment.
Water is yet another issue.
For instance concentrated solar power csp has a footprint of 20 grams of carbon dioxide co2 per kilowatt hour kwh of electricity produced in addition to consuming vast amounts.
So perhaps someday powering photovoltaic panel manufacturing with wind solar and geothermal energy will end concerns about the carbon footprint of photovoltaics.
Solar panels payback the energy in 1.
By scott cramer although the use of solar panels is green many solar panel manufacturing processes are not.