To avoid the catastrophic effects of a warming planet, the world must urgently move away from fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy.  

But misinformation about solar power is gaining traction and risks stalling the transition. Vital Signs is here to set the record straight. Here’s what you need to know.

Is solar really better for the climate than fossil fuels? 

Yes. Solar power is better for the climate because solar panels produce energy by tapping into a free, clean and abundant resource — sunshine. Conversely, burning fossil fuels for energy is the biggest source of planet-warming pollution globally, and co-pollutants like particulate matter, or soot, are known to cause respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease. 

Even better: A solar panel generates enough clean electricity to offset the initial emissions created by its production and transportation in just three years, on average. 

Given that modern panels last about 30 years, that’s decades of pollution-free energy generation.

But solar takes up a lot of space. If we use land for solar energy, how will we grow food? 

We see this question a lot, says Matthew Eisenson, who studies climate misinformation at Columbia’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Farmland is ideal for solar arrays because it’s flat and enjoys a lot of sunshine, but that doesn’t mean that land can’t also be used for growing food.  

In fact, some innovative farmers are finding that solar panels can actually co-exist quite well with some crops — a practice called agrivoltaics. That’s because the shade cast by the panels lessens evaporation, reducing the need to irrigate. The panels can also protect crops from severe weather, and grazing animals appreciate the shade. Plus, says Fiona Lo, a climate scientist at Environmental Defense Fund, growing plants underneath solar panels helps to keep those panels cool, increasing their efficiency. 

In Japan, where land is at a premium, farmers practice agrivoltaics to grow staple crops like potatos and rice while also generating enough clean energy to power hundreds of homes.  

However, farmland isn’t the only place for solar panels. “It’s possible to meet global electricity demand by adding solar panels to just half the world’s rooftops,” says Lo, citing a 2021 study by the World Economic Forum, which identified Asia, Europe and North America as potential hotspots for more rooftop solar energy generation. 

Do solar panels contain toxic metals? 

Solar panels are primarily made of extremely strong tempered glass, aluminum and silicon, with cadmium and copper sometimes added to make them better conductors of electricity.  

While cadmium is a toxic heavy metal, the type of cadmium used in solar panels is cadmium telluride, a safer form that doesn’t dissolve in water or get released into the air. (It’s also encased in tempered glass.) A study published in the Journal of Natural Resources and Development did not find elevated levels of cadmium in the soil under solar panels. Burning coal releases much higher concentrations of cadmium.  

Can we actually get enough reliable energy from solar?  

As of 2020, solar energy made up only about 3.3% of annual electricity generation in the U.S. But investment is on the rise. A 2021 U.S. Department of Energy study found that solar could provide 40% of the nation’s electricity by 2035.  

And research shows that solar, wind and energy storage together can meet much of America’s electricity needs without compromising reliability. For example, advances in battery technology mean that we can now store solar power when generation exceeds demand, putting it back into the grid when it’s most needed. In fact, it was energy from solar power that kept the lights on during Winter Storm Elliott in North Carolina in 2022 when traditional sources of energy like gas failed. 

Plus, as solar panels drop in cost, they are increasingly attractive to both consumers and businesses. For example, the Denver airport has covered 140 acres of its open land with a solar array, and the power generated is expected to save the airport $3 million over 25 years — a win-win.