Dynamic hybrid life cycle assessment of energy and carbon of multicrystalline silicon photovoltaic systems

Environmental Science and Technology

Volumn 44, Issue 20, 2010, Pages 7950-7955

  Zhai, Pei ^a   Williams, Eric D ^a,b  

^a ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b Arizona State University   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CARBON EMISSIONS; ECONOMIC INPUT OUTPUTS; ELECTRICAL GRIDS; EMBODIED ENERGY; EMBODIED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; ENERGY PAY BACK TIME; GRID EMISSIONS; HYBRID ANALYSIS; IN-PROCESS; LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENTS; LOW-CARBON TECHNOLOGIES; MULTI-CRYSTALLINE SILICON; PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS; PV SYSTEM; RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS; TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS; TOPDOWN; TOTAL CURRENT;

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECTS; POLYSILICON; SUN;

LIFE CYCLE;

CARBON; CRYSTALLIN; SILICON;

CARBON EMISSION; CURRENT; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS; LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS; PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM; SILICON; SOLAR RADIATION;

ARTICLE; DYNAMICS; ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICITY; ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY; ENERGY; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT; EXHAUST GAS; HYBRID; LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT; PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM; RETROSPECTIVE STUDY; SOLAR RADIATION; TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT;

CARBON; CRYSTALLIZATION; SILICON; SOLAR ENERGY;

UNITED STATES;

EID: 77958032683     PISSN: 0013936X     EISSN: 15205851     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1021/es1026695     Document Type: Article

References (35)

1. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Form EIA-63B, "Annual Photovoltaic Module/Cell Manufacturers Survey". 2007. Available at http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/solarreport/solarpv.html.
2. Alsema, E. Energy requirements of thin-film solar cell modules-A review Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 1998, 2 (4) 387-415
3. Hunt, L. P. Total energy use in the production of silicon solar cells from raw materials to finished product Proc. IEEE Photovoltaic Specialty Conf. 1976, 347-351
4. Kato, K.; Murata, A.; Sakuta, K. Evaluation of the life cycle of photovoltaic energy system considering production energy of off-grade silicon Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cell. 1997, 47 (1) 95-10
5. Alsema, E.; Frankl, P.; Kato, K. Energy payback time of photovoltaic energy systems: Present status and prospects. 2nd World Conference on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion; Vienna, 6-10 July, 1998.
6. Alsema, E.; de Wild-Scholten, M. J. Environmental impacts of crystalline silicon photovoltaic module production. 13th CIRP International Conference on Life Cycle Engineering; Leuven, Belgium, 31 May-2 June, 2006.
7. Stoppato, A. Life cycle assessment of photovoltaic electricity generation Energy 2008, 33 (2) 224-232
8. Fthenakis, V. M.; Kim, H. C.; Alsema, E. Emissions from photovoltaic life cycles Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42 (6) 2168-2174
9. Pacca, S.; Sivaraman, D.; Keoleian, G. A. Parameters affecting the life cycle performance of PV technologies and systems Energy Policy 2007, 35 (6) 3316-3326
10. Sherwani, A. F.; Usmani, J. A.; Varun., C. Life cycle assessment of solar PV based electricity generation systems: A review Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 2010, 141, 540-544
11. Alsema, E.; de Wild-Scholten, M. J.; Fthenakis, V. M. Environmental impacts of PV electricity generation-A critical comparison of energy supply options. 21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference; Dresden, Germany, 4-8 September, 2006.
12. Williams, E. Energy intensity of computer manufacturing: Hybrid assessment combining process and economic input-output methods Environ. Sci. Technol. 2004, 38 (22) 6166-6174
13. Williams, E.; Weber, C.; Hawkins, T. Hybrid approach to managing uncertainty in life cycle inventories J. Ind. Ecol. 2009, 15 (6) 928-944
14. Nemet, G. F. Beyond the learning curve: Factors influencing cost reductions in photovoltaics Energy Policy 2006, 34, 3218-3232
15. Alsema, E.; de Wild-Scholten, M. J. Reduction of the environmental impacts in crystalline silicon photovoltaic technology-An analysis of driving forces and opportunities. Material Research Society Fall 2007 Symposium; Boston, 26-30 November, 2007.
16. Bullard, C.; Herendeen, R. The energy cost of goods and services Energy Policy 1975, 3, 263-278
17. ISO (International Standards Organization). ISO 14040-Environmental management-Life cycle assessment-Principles and framework; 1997
18. Heijungs, R. A generic method for the identification of options for cleaner products Ecol. Econ. 1994, 10, 69-81
19. Leontief, W. Environmental repercussions and the economic structure: An input-output approach Rev. Economics Statistics 1970, 52 (3) 262-271
20. Henderickson, C. T.; Horvath, A.; Joshi, S.; Lave, L. B. Economic input-output models for environmental life-cycle assessment Environ. Sci. Technol. 1998, 32 (4) 184A
21. Lave, L.; Cobas-Flores, E.; Hendrickson, C.; McMichael, F. Using input-output analysis to estimate economy-wide discharges Environ. Sci. Technol. 1995, 29 (9) 420A-426A
22. Hawkins, T. C.; Hendrickson, C.; Higgins, H. S.; Matthews, H. S.; Suh, S. A mixed-unit input-output model for environmental life cycle assessment and material flow analysis Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007, 41 (3) 1024-1031
23. deWild-Scholten, M. J.; Alsema, E. Environmental life cycle inventory of crystalline silicon photovoltaic module production-Excel file, ECN. Available at http://www.ecn.nl/docs/library/report/2006/c06002-LCI-data-cSiPV-pub-v1.xls.
24. U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. SAM Public Cost Model Version 1.0; available at https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/sam/cost-data.html.
25. deWild-Scholten, M. J.; Alsema, E.; Horst, E.W. ter. A cost and environmental impact comparison of grid-connected rooftop and ground-based PV systems. 21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Dresden; WIP-Renewable Energies: Munich, Germany, 2006; pp 3167-3173.
26. Alsema, E. The real environmental impacts of crystalline silicon PV modules: An analysis based on up-to-date manufacturers data. 20th European Solar Energy Conference; Barcelona, 6-10 June, 2005.
27. U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. National solar technology roadmap: Wafer-silicon PV. NREL/MP-520-41733. June 2007.
28. SolarBuzz online database. Available at http://www.solarbuzz.com/ InverterPrices.htm.
29. BEA 2002. Available at http://www.bea.gov/industry/iotables/.
30. CMU 2009. Carnegie Mellon University. Economic input-output life cycle assessment. Available at http://www.eiolca.net/
31. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Electric Power Annual 2007: A Summary. Available at http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/epa/epa.html.
32. Alsema, E.; Nieuwlaar, E. Energy viability of photovoltaic systems Energy Policy 2000, 28, 999-1010
33. Schaeffer, G. J.; Alsema, E.; Seebregts, A.; et al. Learning from the sun. Analysis of the use of experience curves for energy policy purposes: The case of photovoltaic power. Final report of the Photex project. ECN-C-04-035. August 2004.
34. U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A review of PV inverter technology cost and performance projections. Navigant Colnculting Inc., NREL/SR-620-38771, January 2006.
35. Hariharan, G.; Sato, S.; Liu, C. Solar cell supply chain. Asia Pacific equity research by JPMorgan. 2008, report.