The solar energy band wagon is not the holy grail you want it to be. If you use solar panels you must have battery backup or you will only have power during the day. You will require a large bank of batteries and other components for a operational system. Just the amount of environmental damage from the mining of the lead or other metals used in the batteries is huge. Also the batteries will have to be replaced after several years causing problems for the dumps from the chemicals. Solar panels can last up to 25 years so its not really the panels causing the problem.