A simple lower bound on the EROI of photovoltaic electricity generation

William F. Pickard

Energy Policy, 2017, vol. 107, issue C, 488-490

Abstract: Two conceptually and computationally simple techniques (one optimistic, the other pessimistic) are introduced to estimate the energy payback time of a photovoltaic array. Both yield values of the Energy Returned On energy Invested (EROI) in excess of approximately 5. Therefore solar photovoltaic electricity appears to be a stably sustainable source of renewable energy.

Keywords: Embodied energy; Energy return on energy invested; EROI; Gross Domestic Product (GDP); Intermittency challenge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:enepol:v:107:y:2017:i:c:p:488-490

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.05.022

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