Solar Panel Safety and Environmental Footprint

At Arevon, we often hear questions about solar panel safety. There’s a lot of information out there, and not all of it is accurate. Communities have real concerns, and we want to provide real answers backed by facts and science.

Solar Energy and Public Health

Solar energy is one of the safest forms of power generation available. There are no proven health risks from living near or working around solar projects. In fact, millions of homeowners across the U.S. choose to install solar panels on their rooftops.

The bigger picture: studies show that adding solar and wind to our nation’s energy mix has already delivered tangible health benefits. By generating electricity without emissions, these projects contribute to cleaner air and help reduce premature deaths linked to air pollution.

What Are Solar Panels Made Of?

By weight, more than 80% of a typical solar panel is glass and aluminum — common and easy-to-recycle materials. Solar panels are composed of solid materials, with no liquids present. Both silicon-based and thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are made up of the following materials:

As you can see, solar panels consist of materials commonly found in household appliances and technology.

Safe and Durable by Design

Solar panels are built to last. They are:

• Encapsulated under pressure, so tightly bonded that breaking them apart under normal conditions is nearly impossible.
• Sealed inside tempered glass, the same material used for car windshields and hurricane windows — creating a sealed, durable barrier.
• Tested for decades of durability, designed to withstand harsh conditions for 30 years or more.
• Certified to rigorous safety standards by international and U.S. testing bodies including the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Manufacturers must also comply with location-specific regulations and certifications.

On top of industry and local requirements, every panel used in Arevon projects must pass the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test — providing measurable assurance that even if damaged, panels are safe for people and the environment.

TCLP Testing: Extra Assurance

TCLP (EPA Test Method 1311 outlined in EPA publication SW-846) is the gold standard for determining whether a material could release harmful substances into the environment. In this test:

• Panels are broken or crushed into small pieces to simulate a worst-case scenario.
• The pieces are then exposed to liquids that mimic how rainwater might pass through a landfill over a 100-year duration.
• The liquid is tested for 40 possible contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and organic chemicals.
• To pass, results must fall below EPA safety thresholds.

Because solar panels are so strongly laminated, breaking them apart for this test is already much more extreme than what would normally occur in real life. Passing the TCLP provides confidence that panels remain safe — even if damaged during construction or operations.

This testing:

• Protects public health.
• Prevents groundwater contamination.
• Ensures regulatory compliance with the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and state-level environmental regulations. RCRA is the public law that creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and nonhazardous solid waste.

Built to Withstand Weather

From hail and heavy snow to high winds and torrential rain, solar panels are tested to hold up under extreme conditions.

At Arevon, our solar panels are mounted on intelligent trackers that move with the sun — and they also provide protection. For example, if a hailstorm is forecast, panels can be tilted to deflect impact and minimize damage.

If panels are ever damaged, Arevon projects are fully insured, and compromised panels are recycled as a priority and replaced promptly to limit any disruption to utilities.

Solar’s Carbon Footprint

Some ask: “If you include the manufacturing, is solar really reducing carbon emissions?” The answer is yes, and significantly so.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory:

• The lifecycle carbon footprint of solar power is among the lowest of all energy sources.
• Over its full lifecycle, solar produces a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional forms of power generation.
• Photovoltaic solar energy projects have a lifecycle emissions footprint 95% lower than a coal fired power plant and 91% less than a natural gas plant.

Lifecycle accounting includes manufacturing, construction, operation/energy generation, dismantling, and recycling.

24/7 Monitoring and Safety

Every Arevon project is monitored around the clock. Advanced systems track performance in real time, flagging anomalies early to maintain safety and reliability. If an issue arises, our operations team is immediately alerted and can respond quickly to investigate and resolve it. This ensures our facilities operate safely and consistently, delivering reliable power to the grid.

Additional Questions We Hear

Question: Can solar panels be recycled?

Answer: Yes. In fact,  Arevon is committed to recycling all solar panels at our projects rather than sending them to a landfill. That includes panels damaged during construction or operations, as well as those reaching the end of their service life during decommissioning, with only rare exceptions when severe damage prevents effective recycling.

Arevon ensures that only reputable and trustworthy recycling companies are contracted to transport and recycle panels.

Question: Are electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from solar projects a concern?

Answer: No. Solar panels themselves generate electricity in direct current (DC), which does not create EMFs. Multiple studies have found EMF levels at the edges of solar facilities to be negligible — no different from what comes from household appliances.

Question: Do solar projects affect local temperatures?

Answer: No. Any heat created by a solar project is much less than what is created by urban areas, dissipates quickly, and cannot be measured 100 feet away according to a study from the University of Maryland. Groundcover plants around solar panels often have a cooling effect, further reducing any heat buildup.

The Bottom Line

Solar energy is safe, durable, and environmentally responsible. Independent testing and decades of real-world performance confirm that panels meet rigorous standards for health, safety, and reliability. At the same time, solar delivers cleaner air and a smaller carbon footprint, helping power America’s future while protecting our communities and environment today.

At Arevon, safety is more than a standard — it’s a core value and top priority. From project design and construction to long-term operations, we maintain the highest safety protocols to protect our teams, partners, and communities. We’re equally committed to transparency and facts. If you have questions about solar project safety, we welcome the conversation. For more details about solar health and safety, visit our Solar Safety FAQs.

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