The phrase you're looking for is "embodied energy", and the answer is first, that solar generates a net return on energy investment in under 10 years, and often

The phrase you're looking for is "embodied energy", and the answer is first, that solar generates a net return on energy investment in under 10 years, and often in much much less than that, with a panel lifetime of over 30 years. But more importantly, it's even more favorable when you compare it to the embodied energy of non-renewable resources: https://sustainability.stackexchange.com/questions/8317/what-is-the-typical-embodied-energy-of-a-solar-photovoltaic-panel https://sustainability.stackexchange.com/questions/8317/what...