skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Photovoltaics: Life-cycle Analyses

Abstract

Life-cycle analysis is an invaluable tool for investigating the environmental profile of a product or technology from cradle to grave. Such life-cycle analyses of energy technologies are essential, especially as material and energy flows are often interwoven, and divergent emissions into the environment may occur at different life-cycle-stages. This approach is well exemplified by our description of material and energy flows in four commercial PV technologies, i.e., mono-crystalline silicon, multi-crystalline silicon, ribbon-silicon, and cadmium telluride. The same life-cycle approach is applied to the balance of system that supports flat, fixed PV modules during operation. We also discuss the life-cycle environmental metrics for a concentration PV system with a tracker and lenses to capture more sunlight per cell area than the flat, fixed system but requires large auxiliary components. Select life-cycle risk indicators for PV, i.e., fatalities, injures, and maximum consequences are evaluated in a comparative context with other electricity-generation pathways.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE EE OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1049213
Report Number(s):
BNL-96354-2011-JA
Journal ID: ISSN 0038-092X; SRENA4; R&D Project: 10206; EB2105000; TRN: US201217%%549
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-98CH10886
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Solar Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 85; Journal Issue: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 0038-092X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; CADMIUM TELLURIDES; LENSES; LIFE CYCLE; METRICS; SILICON; Photovoltaics; Life-cycle analysis; Life-cycle assessment; Environmental and health effects; Energy payback times

Citation Formats

M, Fthenakis V, and Kim, H C. Photovoltaics: Life-cycle Analyses. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
M, Fthenakis V, & Kim, H C. Photovoltaics: Life-cycle Analyses. United States.
M, Fthenakis V, and Kim, H C. 2009. "Photovoltaics: Life-cycle Analyses". United States.
@article{osti_1049213,
title = {Photovoltaics: Life-cycle Analyses},
author = {M, Fthenakis V and Kim, H C},
abstractNote = {Life-cycle analysis is an invaluable tool for investigating the environmental profile of a product or technology from cradle to grave. Such life-cycle analyses of energy technologies are essential, especially as material and energy flows are often interwoven, and divergent emissions into the environment may occur at different life-cycle-stages. This approach is well exemplified by our description of material and energy flows in four commercial PV technologies, i.e., mono-crystalline silicon, multi-crystalline silicon, ribbon-silicon, and cadmium telluride. The same life-cycle approach is applied to the balance of system that supports flat, fixed PV modules during operation. We also discuss the life-cycle environmental metrics for a concentration PV system with a tracker and lenses to capture more sunlight per cell area than the flat, fixed system but requires large auxiliary components. Select life-cycle risk indicators for PV, i.e., fatalities, injures, and maximum consequences are evaluated in a comparative context with other electricity-generation pathways.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1049213}, journal = {Solar Energy},
issn = {0038-092X},
number = 8,
volume = 85,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}