No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 45: Line 45:


[http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/pip.770 Ito, M., K. Kato, K. Komoto, T. Kichimi, and K. Kurokawa (2007), A comparative study on cost and life-cycle analysis for 100 MW very large-scale PV (VLS-PV) systems in deserts using m-Si, a-Si, CdTe, and CIS modules, Progress in Photovoltaics, 16, 17-30]
[http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/pip.770 Ito, M., K. Kato, K. Komoto, T. Kichimi, and K. Kurokawa (2007), A comparative study on cost and life-cycle analysis for 100 MW very large-scale PV (VLS-PV) systems in deserts using m-Si, a-Si, CdTe, and CIS modules, Progress in Photovoltaics, 16, 17-30]
[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V2S-4MCW9N4-1&_user=10&_coverDate=08%2F31%2F2007&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1275085826&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=24c7fb1763aa5539ec4be11d0301f79d Life cycle assessment and energy pay-back time of advanced photovoltaic modules: CdTe and CIS compared to poly-Si, Marco Raugei,Silvia Bargiglia,Sergio Ulgia, Energy, Volume 32, Issue 8, August 2007, pages 1310-1318, doi:10.1016/j.energy.2006.10.003]
==External Links==
==External Links==



Revision as of 19:41, 30 March 2010

Silicon photovoltaic modules

Background

What is an Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)?

A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts of a product or process from production to disposal (Fthenakis et al., 2005). An LCA investigates the material and energy inputs required to produce and use a product, the emissions associated with its use, and the environmental impacts of disposal or recycling. The LCA may also investigate external costs such as environmental mitigation that is made necessary by the production or use of a product (Fthenakis and Alesma, 2006).

Brief History of Solar Power

Lifecycle Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Photovoltaics

Lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions refer to the emissions caused by the production, transportation, or installation of materials related to photovoltaic systems. In addition to the modules themselves, the typical installation includes electrical cable and a metal rack. Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems also include a concrete foundation. Remote installations may require additional infrastructure for transmission of electricity to the local electrical grid. In addition to materials, a life cycle analysis should include carbon dioxide emitted from vehicles during the transportation of photovoltaic modules between the factory, the warehouse, and the installation site. The graph below compares the relative contributions of these factors to the lifetime carbon dioxide impacts of five types of photovoltaic modules (Ito et al., 2007).

Lifetime carbon dioxide emissions for large-scale photovoltaic installations, categorized according to component. This graph compares typical monocrystalline silicon modules (m-Si(a)), high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon (m-Si(b)), cadnium tellurium (CdTe), and copper indium selenium (CIS) modules. Graph by authors, based on Ito et al., 2007.

Production

The environmental impact of a silicon photovoltaic module involves the production of three main components: the frame, the module, and balance-of-system components such as the rack and inverter (Fthenakis and Alsema, 2006). Greenhouse gases are caused mostly by module production (81%), followed by the balance of system (12%) and frame (7%) (Fthenakis and Alsema, 2006).

Energy and Materials Usage

Transportation

Installation

Waste Generated

Air and Water Emissions

Comparison to Other Energy Sources

Total lifecycle emissoins associated with photovoltaic energy production are higher than those of nuclear power but lower than those of fossil fuel energy production. Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of several energy generation technologies are listed below: (Fthenakis and Alsema 2006).

Silicon PV: 45 g/kWh Coal: 900 g/kWh Natural gas: 400-439 g/kWh Nuclear: 20-40 g/kWh

Conclusions

References

Fthenakis, V., and E. Alsema (2006), Photovoltaics energy payback times, greenhouse gas emissions and external costs: 2004-early 2005 status, Progress in Photovoltaics, 14, 275-280.

Fthenakis, V. M., E. A. Alsema, and M. J. de Wild-Scholten (2005), Life cycle assessment of photovoltaics: Perceptions, needs, and challenges, IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, Orlando, Florida.

Ito, M., K. Kato, K. Komoto, T. Kichimi, and K. Kurokawa (2007), A comparative study on cost and life-cycle analysis for 100 MW very large-scale PV (VLS-PV) systems in deserts using m-Si, a-Si, CdTe, and CIS modules, Progress in Photovoltaics, 16, 17-30

Life cycle assessment and energy pay-back time of advanced photovoltaic modules: CdTe and CIS compared to poly-Si, Marco Raugei,Silvia Bargiglia,Sergio Ulgia, Energy, Volume 32, Issue 8, August 2007, pages 1310-1318, doi:10.1016/j.energy.2006.10.003

External Links

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.