Do Solar Panels Emit Radiation – The Complete Guide

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It's time we finally talk about solar panel radiation, and whether or not that should be a concern for you. Over the last 5-10 years, the cost of installing a solar panel system in your home has gone down significantly. This means that the money you save from free energy generated by the solar panels finally outweighs the cost of installing the system.

The result of this shift means that we see more solar panel, or photovoltaic systems, installed on homes, offices, even vans and RV's.

First, let's just briefly answer the question.

Do solar panels emit EMF radiation? Although solar panels do emit EMF radiation, it is quite small, and likely not dangerous. The real issue is that the solar panel system, or photovoltaic system, creates dirty electricity that ultimately radiates EMF radiation into the home. The other concern comes from “smart meters” installed to monitor how much solar energy is being produced by the home.

Now, let's dive a little deeper so we can understand how solar panels work, and whether the radiation they produce is a concern.

How Solar Panels Work

In order to understand the type of radiation solar panels emit, we need to understand how these systems work.

These systems are typically broken down into three components:

The solar panels themselves
The wiring systems
The inverter

First of all, the solar panels themselves are not likely to be an EMF radiation risk. They produce only a small amount of low voltage direct current electricity, which produces hardly any EMF radiation. Also, since the panels are not anywhere near your body, even if they did emit more EMF radiation, the distance is likely to protect you entirely.

These panels work by converting light into electricity when sunlight strikes against the panels. Minerals in the panels are able to make this conversion. While solar panels emit radiation, it is minimal and not harmful, comparable to levels produced by common electrical devices.

That newly produced electricity travels through a wiring system to what is called an Inverter. The inverter converts this somewhat un-usable energy, into 120 volt AC that can be used to power typical electronics such as your television, computer, or anything else. It makes its way into your electrical system just the same way electricity from your power company would.

These inverters are usually installed in one of two ways. Either they are a large box somewhere in the home, usually near the electrical panel. Or, they are micro-inverters underneath or near the panels themselves. These micro-inverters usually still feed into a larger inverter somewhere on the property before the electricity actually makes it into the power grid.

To my understanding, either way, the electricity that travels through conduits between the panels and the inverter are metal, and will not emit any radiation. These also will not produce dirty electricity because they are designed for this type of electricity.

That does not mean that solar panel systems don't produce dirty electricity, because they do, it just comes after the inverter. We'll talk more about that in a minute.

Now, the other source of EMF radiation from solar panels, other than dirty electricity, depends on how you use your solar-generated electricity.

Some homes choose to simply use the electricity for their own needs. However, many people opt to sell all, or some, of their solar-generated electricity back to the utility company.

When this is the case, and sometimes even when it is not, a “smart meter” is installed to monitor how much energy is being produced, how much is being used, how efficient the panels are being, etc. Just like any other smart meter, these meters transmit data wirelessly in packets. When that data is transferred, large amounts of RF radiation are emitted.

So, to sum up, it up, although solar panels themselves do not emit EMF's, the systems absolutely do. Most EMF radiation that results from solar panel systems come from the smart meters installed, and the dirty electricity that is generated.

Now that we better understand that, let's talk about why this could be dangerous.

Composition of Solar Panels

Solar panels are constructed from a variety of materials, each chosen for its specific properties to ensure safe and efficient operation. The core component of a solar panel is the photovoltaic cell, typically made from silicon. Silicon is a non-toxic, abundant element that plays a crucial role in converting sunlight into electrical energy. These cells are encapsulated in a protective layer of glass and aluminum, which shields them from environmental factors such as moisture and physical damage. The combination of these materials not only enhances the durability and longevity of solar panels but also ensures that they operate safely with minimal environmental impact.

Solar Panel Radiation – What You Need To Know

So, we're going to break this down into the two sources of radiation that a solar panel system could expose you to:

RF radiation from the meter
Dirty Electricity

Now, I'm not going to go too in-depth on either of these, because I've written many articles on each one and why it can be dangerous. Instead, I'll briefly talk about why this should be a concern, link you to some more thorough articles and research in case you're curious, and then talk about how you can protect yourself.

RF Radiation From Smart Meters

RF, or radio-frequency, radiation is actually one of the three types of EMF radiation. The other two are magnetic field and electric field.

Radiofrequency is emitted from just about any device that communicates or receives communication wirelessly. Radio waves are used to send packets of data between two wireless devices, but as a result, they also emit a type of non-ionizing radiation.

RF radiation has been shown in hundreds of studies to have negative biological effects when you're exposed to it for long periods of time. Common sources are cell-phones, WiFi routers, cell towers, including 5G towers, and smart meters.

Smart meters, in case you don't know, are simply utility meters that track usage and transmit data about that usage wirelessly. This saves the utility company money because they no longer have to send employees to read the meters.

However, when these smart meters transmit that data, they emit a large amount of RF radiation, exposing people that are near it. Many smart meters are on the outside wall opposite a bedroom and therefore pose a real risk.

When it comes to radiation from a solar panel system, we need to look at how much radiation is being emitted specifically from the solar smart meter.

Now, not every system will have one of these meters, you are likely only to have a specific solar energy smart meter if you sell some of the energy back to a company, or if the area you live in requires them.

If you do have a solar smart meter (or a smart meter at all) we'll talk about ways you can protect yourself in a minute.

Dirty Electricity From Solar Panel Inverters

Now it's time to talk about the more pervasive radiation risk that results from solar panel systems: dirty electricity. If you want to read a full guide on dirty electricity, you can do that here, but I'll cover the basics.

Essentially, dirty electricity is un-usable electricity that gets trapped in your electrical wiring. The wiring in your home is likely 60 hertz AC if you live in the United States, and 50 hertz if you live in Europe. This system worked well when most electrical devices used this type of electricity.

However, as modern technology was developed, devices required more, less, or varying amounts of electricity that this system couldn't support. So, when these devices try to use the electricity in a way it wasn't intended, the result is something called high-frequency voltage transients. These result from the erratic surges of power, and they become unusable.

This unusable electricity then gets stuck in your electrical system, radiating EMFs into your home or office.

Advancements in solar technology over the last decade have significantly improved the safety and efficiency of solar panels, addressing concerns about dirty electricity and public health.

Dirty electricity is usually generated when devices try to use 60/50 hertz electrical systems in one of a few ways:

Converting the 60 Hertz AC (alternating current) into a low-voltage DC (direct current) or
Higher voltage AC
Drawing power intermittently in short bursts by turning the electrical current on and off, sometimes thousands of times per second.

So, when the electricity from your solar panels is converted into electricity for your home, it often results in dirty electricity. Some inverters are better at mitigating this than others, but nearly all will still result in some dirty electricity.

The process of converting the low voltage DC from the panels to usable electricity for the home constantly puts dirty electricity into your lines. Over time, this builds up to significant levels and can expose you to large amounts of EMF radiation.

The radiation emitted from these wires can be measured up to 6 feet away from the wiring and outlets. If you are electrically sensitive, this is even more of a concern.

Alright, now that we understand how solar panel systems can emit radiation, let's talk about ways we can protect ourselves.

Protecting Yourself From Solar Panel Radiation

There are some strategies you can use to protect yourself from radiation that ultimately is caused by solar panel systems.

Just like before, we'll break this into two different pieces, but before we do, there is one tool that you are going to need, and that is an EMF meter.

I recommend purchasing an EMF meter to literally anyone that is concerned about EMF radiation, whether that is WiFi in their home, their microwave oven, cell-phone, or yes, even solar panels.

What a good EMF meter will allow you to do, is not only find sources of radiation but know if the things you're doing to mitigate that radiation are actually working.

So, I won't go in-depth about how these work, instead I'll link you to my article on the topic.

I'll also just say, that the best meter for this purpose, by far, is the Trifield TF2 that I use all the time. Now, their are more expensive meters on the market, but this one is perfect if you're just starting. It's priced affordably, and still accurately measures all three types of EMF radiation.

It is important to note that the consensus it, levels of radiation emitted by solar panels are generally considered safe for the human body in day to day life.

Alright, now let's talk about how we can protect ourselves from solar panel radiation.

Protecting Against Smart Meters

First, let me just say that if you want more thorough information about what smart meters are, why they're dangerous, and how to protect against them, check out these articles:

If you read all of those, you'll be a relative expert on smart meter radiation. However, for the purpose of this article, I'm going to understand that you already understand that your solar panel smart meter emits RF radiation, and we're going to talk about a few simple ways to protect yourself.

Opt-Out

Just like with utility smart meters, there may be a way for you to opt-out of having a solar panel smart meter. Many of these meters are installed by power companies without the homeowner's knowledge or consent. If you realize that your solar panel system has a smart meter, contact the company that installed it and ask about opting out.

Smart meter opt-outs are still a gray area, and states are deciding on what they will allow. Some states you can opt-out but the company can charge you a fee, some states you can opt-out and they can't charge you a fee, and some states you can't opt-out at all.

However, this should absolutely be your first step, because if you can get rid of the smart meter, then you've solved this problem instantly.

What To Do If You Can't Opt-Out

If you can't opt-out of your solar panel smart meter, then you need to reduce the amount of radiation it's exposing you to. You can do that with a few simple products.

Smart Meter Shield – (You can pick one up here) I have a whole article on this, but basically this is a small Faraday cage that you place over the glass cover on your smart meter. This will block any RF radiation being emitted outward and to the sides. They are extremely easy to install and fairly inexpensive.
EMF Protection Paint – (See my review here) I talked earlier about how EMF protection paint should probably be used situationally, and in my opinion, this would be that situation. This kind of paint block EMF radiation that is coming in a direct line, so it makes a perfect product to block radiation coming from a smart meter into your home. Make sure you check out my review or look it up yourself so that you are sure to apply and ground the paint properly.
EMF Blocking Frame Liner – (Get the product here)This can be used in place of the EMF protection paint and is a really cool product. It is essentially a simple liner that blocks EMF radiation, that can be put in any frame. This allows you to frame a picture, or poster or just about anything, and then hang that up on the wall you share with your smart meter to block the radiation. This is likely not to be quite as thorough since you can't easily cover as large of an area, but it is much simpler and cheaper than the EMF protection paint.

Alright, now that we've covered how to protect yourself from the smart meter monitoring your solar panel output, let's talk about what we can do with the dirty electricity.

Protecting Yourself From Solar Panel Dirty Electricity

Just like with the smart meters above, I won't go in-depth about what dirty electricity is, or how you can protect yourself from it. However, here are some resources where you can learn more.

Alright, now let's talk about what we can do.

Remember, dirty electricity builds up in your electrical system and radiates EMF radiation. You can use an EMF meter like the one I talked about above to measure the radiation emitted from the wiring in your walls, however, these meters won't tell you how much dirty electricity is in your system.

For that, you'll need a specific dirty electricity meter. Two companies make these meters (and the filters we'll talk about in a second: Greenwave, and Graham Stetzer. I have both meters, and filters for both companies.

However, I like this meter from Greenwave just a little bit more. Still, you should get the meter from whatever company you get filters from so it is more accurate.

Alright, now let's talk a little bit about dirty electricity filters because these are a great product that will surely reduce the overall electrosmog in your home because remember, dirty electricity isn't just from solar panels but from all kinds of electronics.

Like with the meters, there are basically two companies who make quality dirty electricity filters that actually work: Greenwave and Graham Stetzer.

Stetzer filters have been around longer, but I really like Greenwaves products and technology.

They both are extremely simple, you essentially just plug them into outlets in each main room, and they will filter the dirty electricity out of your home. You should be able to get a reading with your meter, plug them in for about 24 hours, and then get another reading to see how much lower it is. If the dirty electricity is lower, your exposure to EMF radiation will be lower.

You can get Graham Stetzer filters here.

I'm personally using Greenwave filters right now. They have different kits for different size homes, so here are some links to those:

That is pretty much it, so let's summarize a few things.

If you are highly sensitive to EMF radiation and have something called Electrohypersensitivty, or EHS, then I would suggest not installing a solar panel system.

However, if you already have a system or plan to install one, here are a few summarized tips:

Place the inverter away from areas you spend lots of time.
Get a smart meter shield if you have solar power smart meter.
Measure and filter out dirty electricity caused by the solar power system.

That's it, you should be relatively good to go.

Also, if you want to check out my full updated list of EMF protection products, you can see that here.

Now let's cover a few related questions.

The Environmental Impact of Solar Panels

When it comes to energy sources, the difference between solar panels and fossil fuels is like night and day. Fossil fuels pump harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases into the air, contributing to climate change. Solar panels? They generate clean, renewable energy without releasing a single puff of pollution.

Sure, making solar panels requires energy and materials, but even here, they come out ahead. While coal and oil leave behind a trail of destruction — from mining scars to air pollution — the production of solar panels leads to far less environmental harm. Over their lifetime, solar panels do more than just “break even” — they actually reduce emissions and pollution compared to traditional energy sources.

So, while fossil fuels burden the planet with a heavy environmental cost, solar panels offer a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable path forward. It's not just a difference — it’s a complete shift toward a brighter, healthier future.

Do Solar Panels Emit Radiation – The Complete Guide

How Solar Panels Work

Composition of Solar Panels