Health risks of photovoltaic energy technologies
Health risks of photovoltaic energy technologies arise from mining, processing and refining of raw materials and fabrication, installation, operation and disposal of devices used to convert sunlight into useful energy. Using an accounting approach, public and occupational health risks are examined for four different photovoltaic cell alternatives: silicon n/p single-crystal cells produced by an ingot process; silicon metal/insulator/semiconductor cells produced by ribbon growing; cadmium sulfide backwall cells produced by spray deposition; and gallium arsenide cells produced by modified ingot-growing. These alternatives cover a range of manufacturing options (e.g. ingot vs spray deposition) and materials (e.g. silicon vs arsenic) which might be used in future commercialization efforts. Potential public health effects from use of arsenic and cadmium in the photovoltaic energy cycle appear to be small in comparison with other hazards presently noted. Public health hazards related to silicon and silicon monoxide exposures cannot be assessed because of lack of toxicologic information at this time. Most occupational mortality and morbidity effects probably relate to industrial risks similar to those encountered in the day-to-day operation of any industrial operation. Using an accounting method, risks from the extraction of the raw materials through to installation and eventual disposal of the photovoltaic devices were examined. Among the four alternatives, there are only small differences in total health costs. Material supply, installation, and operation appear to contribute substantial portions of the damage within the entire photovoltaic energy cycle. The contribution of the fabrication facilities is small.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 5589782
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-30745; CONF-810652-8; ON: DE82011527
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CADMIUM SULFIDE SOLAR CELLS
CONVERSION
COST
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
MIS SOLAR CELLS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PUBLIC HEALTH
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT