The Ethics Of Solar Power

Environment, new technologies, renewables. We cannot live without energy, and this is a fact. If fossil fuels are polluting our planet, renewables can help us live a greener life. 

Among renewable technologies, solar power is well known and solar panels are very common to add at home, especially in sunny countries. India, for instance, has cut solar power prices and "by 2022 [it] aims to have the capacity to generate 175 gigawatts of power from solar, biomass and wind energy", as reported by The Guardian. 

A revolution that brings good, but not only good, things. 

Scientists are now questioning whether the ends justify the means. The point of contention is the following: cadmium telluride solar modules are considered to perform better than silicon, being "cheap and quick to set up" and absorbing "around 90% of the light" that hits them. However, tellurium is very rare and difficult to find. Scientists have just discovered a huge deposit underwater, in the Atlantic Ocean. 

A good news, one could say. Indeed, if deep-sea mining would not mean a risk for the environment. But this is not the case. 

What to do, then? Fostering solar technology would mean reducing polluting systems, such as oil and coal. However, some of solar technology materials are not 100% sustainable. 

How should scientists act? Would the end (getting tellurium to develop cadmium telluride solar technology) justify the means (mining and drilling)? 

A very good read to think about environment challenges and the future of energy.