Thanks for writing such a camprehensive and inspiring article on all the advances in solar technology. I feel a little more optimistic about the ability of humanity and all of the living world to weather coming storms and survive
I really appreciate this rundown of all of the advances solar has enabled, especially the point about disproportionately helping the less fortunate. But I don't understand how solar is a zero pollution industry if we factor in the materials required to make solar panels (plus the environmental impact of extracting and refining those materials), the maintenance they need, and the rare Earth elements required for batteries to store and distribute solar power. Is that zero pollution, too?
In that passage, I was referring to solar panels being zero pollution at the point of use - they have no moving parts and don't discharge land, air, or water pollution, unlike burning fossil fuels. When you take the whole supply chain into account, solar panels do need to be manufactured, but it requires much less mass (and thus less mining) to extract and process the rare earth elements and other minerals needed make solar panels and batteries than to continue extracting and burning fossil fuels - so replacing combustion-tech with electrotech drastically reduces pollution.
Absolutely! Solar power does so many great things, it’s hard to fit them into one article. I did reference “cookstoves” in passing in the Energy section!
The Earth receives 1/2,000,000,000th of the suns energy and it is 15,000 times global demand. Solar heat pumps for AC is major benefit to reduce global warming.
This article is such a great rundown of all of the facets of solar. Thank you!
Thanks for writing such a camprehensive and inspiring article on all the advances in solar technology. I feel a little more optimistic about the ability of humanity and all of the living world to weather coming storms and survive
I really appreciate this rundown of all of the advances solar has enabled, especially the point about disproportionately helping the less fortunate. But I don't understand how solar is a zero pollution industry if we factor in the materials required to make solar panels (plus the environmental impact of extracting and refining those materials), the maintenance they need, and the rare Earth elements required for batteries to store and distribute solar power. Is that zero pollution, too?
In that passage, I was referring to solar panels being zero pollution at the point of use - they have no moving parts and don't discharge land, air, or water pollution, unlike burning fossil fuels. When you take the whole supply chain into account, solar panels do need to be manufactured, but it requires much less mass (and thus less mining) to extract and process the rare earth elements and other minerals needed make solar panels and batteries than to continue extracting and burning fossil fuels - so replacing combustion-tech with electrotech drastically reduces pollution.
Okay, thank you so much for explaining!
Please don't forget solar cooking.
2bn people who currently cook by burning things are due to pivot to solar cooking over the next 10 years.
Absolutely! Solar power does so many great things, it’s hard to fit them into one article. I did reference “cookstoves” in passing in the Energy section!
The Earth receives 1/2,000,000,000th of the suns energy and it is 15,000 times global demand. Solar heat pumps for AC is major benefit to reduce global warming.
Thank you for this excellent update.
A little while ago I remember hearing that coal is used to create aluminum. Can solar power also be used for this?
There's some fascinating work being done with clean electricity-powered aluminum smelting, with electric arc furnaces, giant heat pumps, and more! It's already big in China. https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-aluminum/china-on-cusp-green-aluminum-boom
Mining technology is increasingly electrifying as well, with fully electric mining vehicles becoming more common in Australia
https://www.bhp.com/news/media-centre/releases/2025/12/bhp-and-rio-tinto-welcome-first-caterpillar-battery-electric-haul-trucks-to-the-pilbara
Thank you I will definitely give these a read.