Booming solar energy demand raising ecological concerns

It is widely held by scientists that solar technology is key in building a clean, renewable energy infrastructure but the environmental damage caused by mining the metals needed to produce solar panels creates an ecological conundrum.

Now anew report from Simon Fraser University says Canada, and B.C. in particular, need to focus on environmentally responsible mining while acquiringthe metals instrumental to the production of solar panels.

"Canada is home to 14 of the 19 metals and minerals that go into making a solar panel," saidDan Woynillowicz, the policy director at Clean Energy Canada andco-author of the SFUreport.

"When we looked across the country at both existing and exploration projects for some of these metals ... B.C. is the most active player today," said Woynillowicz on The Early Edition.

The demand for solar power is expected to grow drastically as solarphotovoltaicsystems become the planet's cheapest source of energy.

And as thatdemand grows, so will Canada's mining industry and potentially B.C.'s economy, he said.

The rise of solar power

The SFUreport details how 2016 was a record-breaking year in the amount of energy produced by solar power, with 73 gigawattsof new capacity coming online.

The report also outlines howthe falling cost of solar panels has caused solar power to be the leading source of new energy worldwide.

Woynillowiczsaysthat as B.C.'s mining industry grows to meet this new demand, itneeds to limit its fuel emissions,chemical use and damage tonearby water sources while harvesting the sought aftermaterials.

"The question for Canadians is: can we actually put in placeregulations, and the practices bymining companies, to capitalize on this as an opportunity to create growth?" saidWoynillowicz. "I think that's the challenge for our policymakers and our mining companies."

To hear the full interview with DanWoynillowicz, click on the audio link below:

The report builds upon previous research conducted by Environment Canada that explored the environmental impact of all electricity producing industries. That research found even with the damage caused by mining, solar poweris still the least impacting form of electricity generation.

Despite the concerns raised, Woynillowicz is optimistic Canadian mining communities can be revitalized and sustained by the increased demand for solar panel building metals.

With files from The Early Edition.