Environmental, health, and safety assessment of photovoltaics

Technical Report · Sat Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6798344· OSTI ID:6798344

Rose, E. C.

Potential enviornmental, health, and safety (E,H and S) concerns associated with all phases of the photovoltaic (PV) energy system life cycle are identified and assessed. E,H and S concerns affecting the achievement of National PV Program goals or the viability of specific PV technologies are emphasized. The report is limited to near-term manufacturing process alternatives for crystalline silicon PV materials, addresses flat-plate and concentrator collector designs, and reviews system deployment in grid-connected, roof-mounted, residential and ground-mounted central-station applications. The PV life-cycle phases examined include silicon refinement and manufacture of PV collectors, system deployment, and decommissioning. The primary E,H and S concerns that arise during collector fabrication are associated with occupational exposure to materials of undetermined toxicity or to materials that are known to be hazardous, but for which process control technology may be inadequate. Stricter exposure standards are anticipated for some materials and may indicate a need for further control technology development. Minimizing electric shock hazards is a significant concern during system construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6798344
• Report Number(s): JPL-PUB-83-88; ON: DE84014617
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140400 -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
140600 -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
ANTIREFLECTION COATINGS
COATINGS
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
CONVERSION
CRYSTAL DOPING
DECOMMISSIONING
DIFFUSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
GASEOUS DIFFUSION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
ION IMPLANTATION
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER PLANTS
POWER SUPPLIES
PROCESSING
REFINING
SAFETY
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS