Life Cycle Analysis of a Photovoltaic Power Plant Using the CED Method

Patryk Leda (), Weronika Kruszelnicka, Anna Leda, Izabela Piasecka, Zbigniew Kłos, Andrzej Tomporowski, Józef Flizikowski and Marek Opielak
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Patryk Leda: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, al. Prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Weronika Kruszelnicka: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, al. Prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Anna Leda: Faculty of Political Science and Administration, Kazimierz Wielki University, J. Poniatowskiego 12, 85-671 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Izabela Piasecka: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, al. Prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Zbigniew Kłos: Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, M. Skłodowska-Curie Square 5, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Andrzej Tomporowski: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, al. Prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Józef Flizikowski: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, al. Prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Marek Opielak: Faculty of Transport and Informatic, University of Economics and Innovation in Lublin (WSEI), Projektowa 4, 20-209 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-19

Abstract: There is a significant demand for materials and energy throughout the manufacturing and construction of a solar power plant’s component parts. Electricity and fossil fuels are used in enormous quantities during the industrial processes in the photovoltaic power plant’s life cycle. It is then necessary to assess the energy needs, especially during production processes, to improve the efficiency of energy usage and management of natural resources from the global perspective. This will lead to a decrease in natural resource consumption and electricity demand. The main aim of this study was to assess the energy demand in the life cycle of the photovoltaic power plant and identify the most energy-intensive stages and components of this type of installation throughout its life cycle. The study of energy consumption in the whole life cycle was conducted for a 2 MW photovoltaic power plant situated in the northern region of Poland using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, particularly the Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) method. Two post-consumer management scenarios were investigated: recycling and landfilling. It was found that the life cycle of PV panels and the inverter station had the largest energy demand among all the components. This study revealed that, compared to recycling, the life cycle involving post-consumer management in the form of landfilling had a higher total energy demand of 4.09 × 10 7 MJ. The results of this investigation validate the benefits of recycling. Thus, recycling ought to be commonplace to improve the environment.

Keywords: energy; CED; cumulative energy demand; life-cycle assessment (LCA); photovoltaic power plant; renewable energy sources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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