Solar panels are panels that conduct sunlight into light energy used for electricity. Solar panels can help save our Earth by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels for energy, offering clean energy. While they can be expensive to install, averaging 15 to 25 thousand dollars, they essentially pay themselves off down the line (Solar 2026). In recent years the usage of solar panels has skyrocketed, as MIT reported the price dropping by 99% in 2018 (International Energy Forum, 2024). Solar Panels are prevalent in Lawrenceville as there is a 30-acre array of them on Lawrenceville’s campus. The socio-economic connection with solar panels is that it is often only the wealthy that can afford this green energy, creating a divide among the classes. Another issue with solar panels includes the increased cost of regular electricity as solar panels continue to increase, making it even harder for the working class.
Pv solar panels, or photovoltaic modules, are cells made of crystalline silicon. They directly convert electricity from sunlight proportional to the solar radiation level. In Photovoltaic Panels the photons, or tiny particles of light, are absorbed by the panels through interacting with the semiconductor materials inside the solar panels (Sopian 2026) This process releases electrons, as the energy from the photons excite the electrons, causing them to be lost from their atoms because of the movement. This electron movement causes an electric current to form. This current is then captured in the panels, and is directed through the wiring within the solar panels, becoming electricity (Lucent Energy 2024).
Figure Description: This figure describes how solar panels turn into electricity. In Photovoltaic Panels the photons, or tiny particles of light, are absorbed by the panels through interacting with the semiconductor materials inside the solar panels (Sopian 2026) This process releases electrons, as the energy from the photons excite the electrons, causing them to be lost from their atoms because of the movement. This electron movement causes an electric current to form. This current is then captured in the panels, and is directed through the wiring within the solar panels, becoming electricity (Lucent Energy 2024).
Solar panels are so important in relation to clean energy. Given the rate of our consumption, we are running out of fossil fuels. Not only are we running through these sources, but they are also negatively affecting our climate. Global warming is a major issue and increased drastic temperature and weather is prevalent, especially for the younger generations as we must keep our Earth healthy and livable for the future generations. Solar panels are vital in this call for change as they do not produce air pollutants or greenhouse gases (U.S. Energy Information Administration 2024). Solar panels lower the CO2 being released as they replace the nonrenewable resources and the burning of fossil fuels, offsetting some of the damage done. A study done through IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) concluded that “solar energy produces approximately 20 times fewer lifecycle emissions than coal-generated electricity” (Chris Gersch, 2026). Another positive outcome is the clean air in areas with solar panels. UChicago did a study that concluded that clean air can add two years to your life, demonstrating the real life effects on longevity and health because of solar panels (Chris Gersch, 2026).
All of these positive effects support the reasoning behind Lawrenceville’s solar farm. Lawrenceville’s solar panels run across 30-acres, with 6.1 megawatt solar facility, with 24,934 solar panels. According to Lawrenceville’s website these solar panels offset over 4,000 metric tons of carbon per year. This amounts to around 850 cars off the road (The Lawrenceville School, n.d. Sustainability). Lawrenceville’s Campus Carbon Reduction Plan aims to reduce their carbon emissions by 2035, or reach carbon neutrality by 2045. According to this plan, Lawrenceville’s solar field currently provides over 60% of its electricity, which could offset 30% of our annual greenhouse gas emissions. Lawrenceville is going through the process of purchasing the panels themselves as we currently only lease the panels. While this will be a costly expense, it allows Lawrenceville to claim the environmental attributes and positives. Some of these positives include the potential to offset campus emissions by 30%, building efficiency, and electrification so Lawrenceville will reach its goal for 2035 (Introba [2023, May 10] Campus Carbon Reduction Plan)
While Lawrenceville is able to reach these goals, it is only because of the available funds. This, unfortunately, is not the case for many. Solar panels can range to upwards of 30,000 thousand dollars. Especially in today’s economy, this is not an option for many families. While it does eventually decrease and pay itself off, only the wealthy can afford the installation and upfront. This increases the socio-economic divide as only the wealthy can really afford it, while working and lower class are forced to rely on coal, polluting our environment when really there is no other option. This also created a divide as the higher-classes push for more sustainability, without accounting for the price, increasing tensions between the classes. Now if the price of solar were to decrease, and taxes on coal and oil were to increase, sustainability would be promoted in a more fair way. In theory, the tax money from the increased tax on coal and oil could be used to subside renewable energy, bridging the gap between classes and promoting sustainability. Now when doing this corporations must find a way to subsidize that will also benefit the supplier because while subsidizing is great unless there is a way to still benefit the supplier and make the parts cheaper it will remain expensive, offsetting subsidizing and not being beneficial long term. Graph 1:
Graph 2:
Figure description: In this Enroads I researched the average levelized cost of energy storage. When oil, gas, and natural gas was taxed and other storage breakthrough cost reduction was set to 0, the cost highly increases as depicted in graph 1. In graph 2, when the other storage breakthrough cost reduction was moved to 74%, the average levelized cost or energy storage decreases around 2040, meaning it is cheaper to use solar energy and also allows it to be stored therefore benefiting the suppliers as well.
Overall, solar panels are a great incentive to offset global warming and help save our planet. Lawrenceville is taking the next steps to continue their journey to net zero carbon emissions in the next 20 or so years. Researchers and the government must work together to find economically positive ways to encourage solar panels and green energy sources.
Works Cited:
Chris Gersch, C. & F. (2026, January 19). How solar energy reduces carbon emissions for businesses. Verde Solutions. https://verdesolutions.com/how-solar-energy-reduces-carbon-emissions-a-win-for-businesses-and-the-planet/#:~:text=Reduces%20Greenhouse%20Gas%20Emissions,when%20considering%20solar%20installation%20scalability
Hooshyar, P. (2026, February 1). Recent progress of soiling impact on solar panels and its mitigation strategies: A review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924023638
Hu, A. (2016, March). Impact of solar panels on global climate. https://www.proquest.com/docview/1770399094?RAO=true&pq-origsite=summon&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals
International Energy Forum. (2024, January 26). The remarkable rise of solar power. https://www.ief.org/news/the-remarkable-rise-of-solar-power
Lucent Energy. (2024, December 30). How solar panels convert sunlight into electricity? https://lucent-energy.com/how-solar-panels-convert-light-into-electricity/#:~:text=Understanding%20How%20Solar%20Panel%20Convert,wiring%20and%20eventually%20becomes%20electricity
Solar.com. (2026). Solar Panel Cost Archives. Solar.com. https://www.solar.com/learn/solar-panel-cost/#:~:text=How%20much%20do%20solar%20panels%20cost%20on%20average?,Prepaid%20Solar%20Products
Sopian, B. (n.d.). Photovoltaic Solar Panel – an overview | sciencedirect topics. Photovoltaic Panel. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/photovoltaic-solar-panel U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2024, January 19). U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – independent statistics and analysis. Solar energy and the environment – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/solar-energy-and-the-environment.php#:~:text=Solar%20energy%20technologies%20and%20power,end%20of%20their%20useful%20life
