Prospects of life cycle assessment of renewable energy from solar photovoltaic technologies: A review

Norasikin Ahmad Ludin, Nur Ifthitah Mustafa, Marlia M. Hanafiah, Mohd Adib Ibrahim, Mohd Asri Mat Teridi, Suhaila Sepeai, Azami Zaharim and Kamaruzzaman Sopian

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2018, vol. 96, issue C, 11-28

Abstract: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive method used to investigate the environmental impacts and energy use of a product throughout its entire life cycle. For solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, LCA studies need to be conducted to address environmental and energy issues and foster the development of PV technologies in a sustainable manner. This paper reviews and analyzes LCA studies on solar PV technologies, such as silicon, thin film, dye-sensitized solar cell, perovskite solar cell, and quantum dot-sensitized solar cell. The PV life cycle assumes a cradle-to-grave mechanism, starting from the extraction of raw materials until the disposal or recycling of the solar PV. Three impact assessment methods in LCA were reviewed and summarized, namely, cumulative energy demand (CED), energy payback time (EPBT), and GHG emission rate, based on data and information published in the literature. LCA results show that mono-crystalline silicon PV technology has the highest energy consumption, longest EPBT, and highest greenhouse gas emissions rate compared with other solar PV technologies.

Keywords: Life cycle assessment; Solar PV technologies; Cumulative energy demand; Energy payback time; GHG emission rate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (44)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.07.048

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