Is Solar Energy Renewable?

Solar power is the fastest-growing renewable energy resource, with more homeowners installing residential systems every year. Why? The answer is both financial and environmental. 

As solar manufacturing and installation costs dropped, and tax credits were renewed, solar power has become a source of cheap energy for millions of households. Also, in the face of more severe weather, solar offers an alternative energy source that avoids the harmful emissions that contribute to climate change. The opportunity to save money while reducing pollution has made solar a popular choice among homeowners, businesses, and electric service providers.

Solar still has an impact on the environment, from the emissions associated with the manufacture of panels to the large amounts of land they sometimes occupy. But as a renewable energy source, they’re decidedly a better choice today than the fossil fuels that drive climate change.

But what does “renewable” actually mean and what other forms of energy fall into the category? Why are individuals, companies, and governments pushing for more renewable energy? How do other terms — like clean, zero carbon, and green — fit in? We’ll cover all that and more below.

What Is Renewable Energy?

First, let’s see how different sources define renewable energy.

• Merriam-Webster’s dictionary: Renewable - capable of being replaced by natural ecological cycles (ex: renewable resources)
• US Department of Energy: Renewable energy comes from unlimited, naturally replenished resources, such as the sun, tides, and wind.
• US law: Renewable energy resource - any energy resource that has recently originated in the sun, including direct and indirect solar radiation and intermediate solar energy forms such as wind, ocean thermal gradients, ocean currents and waves, hydropower, photovoltaic energy, and others.
• Scientific journals: Renewable energy - any form of energy from solar, geophysical, or biological sources that is replenished by natural processes at a rate that equals or exceeds its rate of use.

While each definition differs slightly, they all touch on energy sources that can be naturally replaced. Sometimes energy is referred to by similar but separate terms like “carbon-free” or “clean.” 

• Carbon-free energy is produced by a resource that doesn’t generate any carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide gas traps heat from the sun, warming the Earth and contributing to more extreme weather and pollution with harmful environmental and health impacts.
• Clean energy refers to energy that comes from both renewable and carbon-free sources that are naturally replaced and do not emit harmful emissions.

Not all carbon-free energy is renewable. For example, nuclear energy is carbon-free but not renewable because it doesn’t generate greenhouse gas emissions yet is fueled by finite elements like uranium.

Is Solar Renewable Energy?

Solar panels contain photovoltaic cells that can absorb light particles (called photons) from the sun to generate electricity. Solar power is considered renewable because the sun is always producing photons that can be used for energy. This is different from non-renewable sources like oil or coal because their supplies are limited. Once we use them, they can not be naturally replaced (or at least not on any time scale relevant to us). 

Solar is also carbon-free, clean energy because it doesn’t emit carbon emissions. However, some point out that solar energy generation can still have negative environmental impacts. These mainly center around how solar panels are manufactured in factories that may rely on non-renewable power, and that these factories and siting solar on large areas of land could negatively impact surrounding plants and wildlife. Solar panels can also contain hazardous metals and materials that could contribute to dangerous waste if not disposed of properly, though research shows this issue may be overblown.

How Can the Industry Reduce the Negative Impacts of Solar?

Solar panels can last about 30 years so, while most are still in use, it’s important to prepare for when millions come to the end of their life in the next few decades. Continued innovation in manufacturing solar panels will help minimize energy use and waste, while improvements in recycling will make it easier and more cost-effective to reuse materials. 

While solar panel manufacturing does have some environmental impacts, once systems are installed they can create renewable energy for decades without emitting carbon dioxide. Solar can also be installed on empty roof space and land brownfields that have no other use to avoid displacing wildlife. In all, the positive environmental impacts of solar energy greatly outweigh any negative results from their manufacturing.

Credit: National Renewable Energy Lab

What Are Other Renewable Energy Sources?

Solar isn’t the only source of renewable energy. Here are some other examples.

• Wind: Wind turbines harness and convert the kinetic energy from air currents caused by the sun’s uneven heating of the atmosphere, irregular surfaces like mountains and valleys, and the Earth’s revolution.
• Geothermal: The Earth’s decay of radioactive elements causes underground heat that can be converted into energy using fractures, wells, and turbines.
• Hydropower: Turbines can also use the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity. 

These sources of renewable energy can be used to generate electricity, heat and cool buildings and transport goods and people. Renewable energy generates more than 20% of all U.S. electricity, and that percentage continues to grow.

Why Is Renewable Energy Important?

Using more renewable energy and retiring fossil fuel power plants will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gasses that are released into the atmosphere. This is important to slowing the effects of climate change while also avoiding air pollution for better community health.
Cheap sources of renewables like solar can also reduce electric bills to help homeowners and businesses save money. When paired with a battery storage system, solar can also help keep the lights on during power outages.
The many benefits of renewable energy are why millions of households have installed home solar. By understanding the facts of solar energy, you can make an educated choice to do what’s best for the environment, and your wallet, too. 

Begin by calculating your benefits here. 

Renewable Energy FAQs

Is solar energy renewable?
Solar is a renewable energy resource because it is generated using an endless source of photons, which are light particles from the sun.

Why is carbon-free energy important?
Carbon dioxide is a harmful greenhouse gas because it traps heat, which contributes to global warming. Burning fossil fuels for energy also produces other types of harmful air pollution, too. The effects of climate change include more extreme weather, sea level rise, and other negative impacts on the environment and human well-being. Using resources that don’t emit carbon can help us avoid the worst effects of climate change and reduce health issues associated with air pollution. 

What is green power?
Green power is a term similar to renewable energy but is used for energy resources that provide the most environmental benefits. Sources like solar and wind are considered green power in the U.S.
What is conventional power?
Conventional power includes fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil, which have traditionally been used as electricity resources. Fossil fuels require mining, drilling, or extracting and emit greenhouse gasses during combustion.

Sobre el AutorAndrew GiermakWriter and Editor

Andrew joined Palmetto in Charlotte in August 2024. He’s been a writer in journalism, then in business, going back to almost the 20th century. He’s lived in Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia again, and now North Carolina for the last 12 years. He likes golf. Is he good at it? Not so much.