Eco-design of emerging BIPV modules based on LCA and LCC

Le Quyen Luu, Maurizio Cellura, Francesco Guarino and Sonia Longo

Energy, 2025, vol. 333, issue C

Abstract: The decarbonization of energy sector requires the substantial contribution of solar photovoltaics (PV), with increasing energy efficiency, feasible production cost while minimizing the environmental impacts. This paper suggests eco-design measures for the innovative building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) modules by applying life cycle thinking approach. The environmental impacts and costs of BIPV modules based on silicon and perovskite solar cells are quantified and evaluated according to the ISO14040 and ISO14044 standards, the guidelines of International Energy Agency for life cycle assessment (LCA) on solar PV and the Product Environmental Footprint of the European Commission. All the environmental impacts of the BIPV modules are quantified from cradle to grave per 1 kWh of electricity. The same functional unit is applied for life cycle costs, with consideration of manufacturing costs only. Climate change impact of BIPV modules ranges from 2.31E-02 kgCO2e to 6.83E-01 kgCO2e per kWh of electricity, depending on their transmittance, materials of the solar cells and end-of-life management strategies. Fossil resource use varies between 2.74E-01 MJ and 1.05E+01 MJ, and mineral and metal resource use is from 1.63E-06 kg Sb eq to 1.14E-04 kg Sb eq per kWh. Besides, levelized cost of electricity generated from BIPV modules ranges from 0.01 EUR to 3 EUR per kWh. The environmental impact and cost assessments of BIPV modules indicate that the eco-design need to improve the efficiency and lifetime of perovskite materials and reduce the cost for cell fabrication, so that they can compete with silicon based BIPV modules.

Keywords: Solar PV; BIPV; Eco-design; LCA; Perovskite solar cells; Emerging solar technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:333:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225031421

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.137500

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