The environmental crisis is spurring people across the UK to make changes in their everyday lives and solar panels provide one way for households to significantly reduce their carbon footprint. Producing electricity from the sun can also reduce energy bills, saving homeowners up to £30,000 in energy costs over the panel’s lifetime. The cost of solar panels is dropping fast, meaning the economy of installing solar makes increasing sense. Most systems now pay for themselves in under 7 years. Yet, as the solar market booms, so does the range and quality of panels available.  

What are the ethical questions for solar installations?

The ethical dimension of solar panel production often goes unexplored, raising crucial concerns from labour exploitation to environmental impact. A significant worry is the prevalence of slave labour within the industry’s supply chain, particularly in countries like China, where cost-driven material sourcing has been proven to lead to forced labour and human rights abuses.

Additionally, the ecological toll of solar panel manufacturing is substantial, encompassing habitat destruction, pollution and waste at the end of the panel’s use. Despite these challenges, a positive trend is emerging, with some solar producers prioritising ethical practices. These companies offer slave-labour-free panels, mainly produced in Europe where regulations are clearer and more stringent. Cradle-to-cradle panels are also available, ensuring full recyclability of every single component in a panel.   

With the rising cost of living in the UK and a lack of government incentives, investing in solar panels is not always an easy choice. Opting to purchase a solar system for your home is a substantial decision. Maybe surprisingly, choosing high-quality solar panels can lead to long-term financial savings. While lower quality panels may seem like a more economical choice initially, they often come with hidden costs in the form of reduced efficiency, shorter lifespan and higher maintenance and repair requirements. In contrast, high quality panels are typically more durable, efficient and reliable, resulting in greater energy production and lower operating costs over their lifespan.   

Your consumer choices make a difference.

When researching solar panels, it makes sense to consider ethical aspects in conjunction with cost and investment returns. Prioritising ethical practices within the solar industry not only communicates to manufacturers that customers value social justice and environmental responsibility, but also exerts a transformative influence throughout the supply chain. This type of collective pressure is a catalyst for positive change.   

Whether you’re seeking solar or battery technology to power your home or business, consult with your installer for guidance on panels and batteries that ensure both slave labour-free production and recyclability at the end of their lifecycle.   

You can book a discussion with the Sales Team at Bloom Renewables in Devon, to explore the most ethical solar installation for your home or business.