THE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF SOLAR-ENERGY IN CENTRAL STATION POWER PRODUCTION

We compare the impact on greenhouse-gas emissions, environmental degradation, and human health and safety of solar energy systems with the nuclear and fossil-energy options. When all direct and indirect aspects of the different energy production and delivery systems are properly accounted for, we find the following: (i) given current technologies, on a standardized energy unit basis, solar energy systems may initially cause more greenhouse-gas emissions and environmental degradation than do conventional nuclear and fossil-energy systems. (ii) An ambitious program to utilize solar energy systems in place of nuclear and fossil-fuel systems could, for the next 4 or 5 decades, actually increase environmental degradation. In addition, the production of materials for these technologies involves hazardous substances that must be handled cautiously to avoid environmental damage. (iii) In comparing solar energy systems with the conventional alternatives, it is important to recognize the substantial costs, hazardous wastes, and land-use issues associated with solar technologies. (iv) Based upon risk perceptions and current technologies, the health and safety risks of solar energy systems may be substantially larger than those associated with some fossil- and nuclear-energy resource options.