Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

That's factually incorrect, rooftop solar is ~5x as dangerous as nuclear based on reasonable estimates. However, grid connected photovoltaic solar is incredibly safe. https://www.statista.com/statistics/494425/death-rate-worldw...

Talking about rooftop solar in a safety context is very much a straw man argument. Putting stuff on roofs is dangerous, but you don't need to put solar on a roof.

PS: Concentrating solar is also very different from a cost and risk perspective than photovoltaic solar.



The problem with these comparisons, is that a death from installing rooftop solar is arguably something that the person doing the work actually have at least some ability to prevent.

A death in a nuclear accident, or premature death from pollution, is not something the person doing the dying has much if any control over.


Isn't that exactly what they said, that nuclear is the lowest, so it makes sense that rooftop solar is worse (in terms of death only, of course)?


Your source is behind a paywall, but the small part available says

>In comparison, nuclear energy was considered the safest energy source

At the same time, their second source addresses that non-rooftop solar likely has a far lower mortality rate, and either way has 100x less of a mortality rate than coal.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: