Will The Energy Generated By The Solar Power System Cause Harm To The Human Body?

While more and more people around the world are embracing the use of residential solar energy systems, developing researchers from the international health and energy community have extensively documented that there are no credible human health risks associated with solar energy production. All the leading experts have investigated the possibilities of health risks from energy production and transmission in photovoltaic (PV) systems.

The World Health Organization's International Electromagnetic Field Project partnered with key research institutions, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the European Solar Research Institute, to complete a multi-year study of potential health effects from systems generating electricity from solar power.

"It's clear from the studies that these solar energy systems do not generate harmful radiation or energy emissions in sufficient levels to pose any health risk for humans," emphasized Dr. Elena Martinez, the principal researcher for the WHO project. "The systems simply convert sunlight directly into electricity via the photovoltaic effect and there is nothing emitted in the process. The energy conversion system is a passive electrical process that converts solar energy to electrical energy without any emissions that could impact human health."

Solar panels function by harvesting photons from sunlight, turning them into direct current (DC) electricity using semiconductor materials. The process contains no moving parts, no chemical reactions and no combustion. The electrical energy passes through an inverter which converts the energy into alternating current (AC) electricity for household use.

"There is no 'emission' from a solar panel - provided the solar panel is functioning correctly - other than electricity," said Dr. Michael Chen, a photovoltaic systems expert at the International Energy Agency. "Unlike conventional power generation solar systems involve no airborne pollutants, radiation, or any other byproducts that may have some effect on humans."

Solar panels work by taking in photons from sunlight and converting them into direct current (DC) electricity using semiconductor materials. The process involves no moving parts, no chemical reactions, and no combustion. The electrical energy produced is then routed through an inverter that transforms it into alternating current (AC) used at home.

"The only 'emission' from a solar panel that functions properly is electricity," says Dr. Michael Chen, a photovoltaic systems expert at the International Energy Agency (IEA), explained the key differences between solar and conventional generation. "Solar systems are different than conventional power generation systems in that the panels do not release airborne pollutants, no radiation, and there is no other byproduct that could possibly affect human health."

Homeowners have raised concerns over electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from solar systems. Multiple independent studies have shown that a solar user's EMF exposure is below international safety standards, and similar to that of everyday appliances in any home.

"Solar systems generate extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields," says Dr. Sarah Wilkinson, an environmental health expert. "Solar systems are similar to household wiring and appliances, and these EMFs are non-ionizing, low energy, and do not produce cellular damage and health effects. EMF exposure reduces rapidly over distance, and is almost negligible within a few feet from a solar system."

The solar industry has an outstanding safety record, and regulatory bodies in countries around the world have developed safety requirements for solar and installation practices. All of the certified solar equipment is a product of rigorous testing on international electrical and safety standards.

"Today's solar systems are designed with multiple safety features such as automatic shutdown, isolation protection, complete grounding systems, etc. Solar systems are designed and tested to be safe for homeowners or installers when properly installed and maintained," said Thomas Reynolds, the executive director of the Global Solar Manufacturers Association.

The World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and the Health Directorate of the European Commission have all issued statements based on some decades of research on the health effects of renewable energy technologies, which all indicate that solar power systems are safe.

"The evidence is extensive and consistent and comes from many studies in many different conditions and countries," indicated Dr. Martinez, "We find no identifiable health risks for the population from solar power generation."

Although our current research does give a strong level of comfort, the science community of researchers continues to monitor renewable energy technologies, and researchers actively study renewables with a focus on increasing system efficiency and optimizing the compatibility of renewable energy with modern electrical grids. Researchers have addressed health issues thoroughly and exhaustedively (and thoroughly dismissed).

"The future of solar energy is very hopeful. Not just for the environment, but also for human health," concluded Dr. Chen. "Since solar power displaces fossil fuel generation which creates harmful emissions, the use of solar allows for improved public health outcomes by improving air quality."

The purpose of the International EMF Project is to review and assess the scientific evidence of possible health effects of electromagnetic fields in the frequency range 0-300 GHz. The Project aims to promote and to enhance focused research to fill knowledge gaps and develop clarity on international agreements to protect people from EMF and set internationally accepted parameters for limits on EMF exposure.