Understanding Radiation Types
First, let's clarify what "radiation" means:
Ionizing Radiation
X-rays, gamma rays, nuclear radiation. Can damage DNA. Solar panels produce NONE of this.
Non-Ionizing EMF
Radio waves, microwaves, electrical fields. Produced by all electrical equipment. Solar produces very low levels.
Solar panels don't produce ionizing radiation. Period. The concern sometimes raised is about electromagnetic fields (EMF), which all electrical devices produce.
EMF From Solar vs. Everyday Sources
| Source | EMF Level (milligauss) |
|---|---|
| Microwave oven (at 1 foot) | 100-300 mG |
| Hair dryer | 60-200 mG |
| Vacuum cleaner | 100-700 mG |
| Cell phone (in use) | Variable, close to head |
| Electric blanket | 3-50 mG |
| Refrigerator | 1-4 mG |
| Solar inverter (at 10 feet) | <1 mG |
| Solar farm at property line | Background levels |
At typical setback distances (100+ feet), EMF from a solar installation is indistinguishable from natural background levels.
Why EMF Is So Low
- Solar panels produce DC power — Direct current creates minimal electromagnetic fields
- Inverters are the main source — But they're placed centrally, far from property lines
- EMF drops rapidly with distance — By the inverse square law, doubling distance quarters the field
- Underground cables — Buried wiring produces virtually no EMF at ground level
What Health Organizations Say
"There is no evidence that exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health." — World Health Organization
The WHO, CDC, and other health bodies have found no link between low-level EMF exposure (the kind from all electrical equipment) and health effects.
Safety Standards
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) sets guidelines for EMF exposure. Solar installations operate at levels thousands of times below these guidelines.
Perspective
If you're concerned about EMF from a solar farm hundreds of feet away, you should first address:
- Your cell phone (held against your head)
- Your home's electrical wiring (feet away while sleeping)
- Your appliances (used daily)
- Your Wi-Fi router (constantly transmitting)
All of these expose you to more EMF than a distant solar farm would.
Measured Data
Multiple studies have measured EMF at solar installations:
- At inverters (closest source): 0.5-3 milligauss
- At fence line (typically 50+ feet): Below 0.5 milligauss
- At property boundaries (100+ feet): Background levels (<0.2 mG)
These measurements are comparable to or lower than natural background EMF from Earth's magnetic field and cosmic sources.
The Bottom Line
Solar farms produce no ionizing radiation and generate EMF levels far below household appliances. At property-line distances, EMF from solar is indistinguishable from background. This concern is not supported by science.