Environmental Development Plan (EDP): Photovoltaics, 1977

Technical Report · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:7013179

This Environmental Development Plan (EDP) for the ERDA Photovoltaics Program briefly describes the present status, program goals, and potential applications of photovoltaic technologies and identifies potential areas of environmental concern relevant to both system production and use. Among these concerns are occupational exposure to hazardous substances, environmental effects and possible subsequent public health problems, and socioeconomic impacts. Screening of identified possible impacts results in delineation of those of the most serious, irreversible and cumulative nature, which have near-term importance to the program and for which current knowledge of effects and control technologies are inadequate. In light of these factors, and the length of time necessary to complete applicable research programs, the EDP sets out a management plan, coordinating studies in necessary environmental research areas with the technology development schedule. The principal concerns involve worker exposure to hazardous substances during preparation of semiconductor materials and photovoltaic cells. Besides the major occupational health and safety issues, environmental effects of photovoltaic system development are associated with material production. System malfunction or accidents may involve exposure to toxic gases generated during a fire or system overheat (off-gassing).

• Research Organization: Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7013179
• Report Number(s): DOE/EDP-0003
• 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
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
530000 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM SULFIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
MANAGEMENT
PHOSPHORS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
PNICTIDES
POWER PLANTS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAFETY
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS