Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Thin-film Photovoltaic Electricity Generation: Systematic Review and Harmonization

Journal of Industrial Ecology

Volumn 16, Issue SUPPL.1, 2012, Pages

  Kim, Hyung Chul ^a   Fthenakis, Vasilis ^a   Choi, Jun Ki ^a   Turney, Damon E ^a  

^a BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY   (United States)

Author keywords

Amorphous silicon; Cadmium telluride; Carbon footprint; Copper indium gallium diselenide; Industrial ecology; Meta model

Indexed keywords

AMORPHOUS SILICON (A-SI); ANALYSIS METHOD; BALANCE OF SYSTEMS; CDTE; CONFERENCE PAPERS; COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM DISELENIDE; GHG EMISSION; INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY; LIFE-CYCLE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS; META MODEL; PERFORMANCE RATIO; PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICITIES; PRIMARY SCREENING; PRODUCTION LINE; PV SYSTEM; SYSTEM BOUNDARY; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAICS; THIN-FILM TECHNOLOGY;

AMORPHOUS SILICON; CADMIUM TELLURIDE; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBON FOOTPRINT; COPPER; EFFICIENCY; ELECTRIC GENERATORS; ESTIMATION; GALLIUM; GAS EMISSIONS; GREENHOUSE GASES; IRRADIATION; PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECTS; SELENIUM COMPOUNDS; SILICON;

INDIUM;

AMORPHOUS MEDIUM; CADMIUM; CARBON DIOXIDE; ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT; ELECTRICITY GENERATION; EMISSION INVENTORY; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT; FILM; GALLIUM; GREENHOUSE GAS; INDIUM; INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY; IRRADIATION; LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS; LITERATURE REVIEW; PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM; SILICON; SOLAR POWER; TELLURIDE;

EID: 84862776509     PISSN: 10881980     EISSN: 15309290     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00423.x     Document Type: Article

References (36)

1. Alsema, E., D. Frail, R. Frischknecht, V. Fthenakis, M. Held, H. C. Kim, W. Pölz, M. Raugei, and M. J. de Wild-Scholten 2009. Methodology guidelines on life cycle assessment of photovoltaic electricity, subtask 20 "LCA". IEA PVPS Task 12. Paris : International Energy Agency.
2. Alsema, E. A., M. J. de Wild-Scholten, and V. M. Fthenakis 2006. Environmental impacts of PV electricity generation-A critical comparison of energy supply options. Paper presented at the 21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, 4-6 September 2006, Dresden, Germany
3. de Wild-Scholten, M. J. 2009. Renewable and sustainable. Presentation at the CrystalClear final event, 26 May 2009, Munich, Germany
4. 2 emissions from energy supplying systems: Photovoltaic systems and conventional grid within Spanish frame conditions. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 15(6): 557-566.
5. Energy Business Review. 2010. Company overview, United Solar Ovonic, LLC. Accessed 20 June 2011.
6. Farrell, A. E., R. J. Plevin, B. T. Turner, A. D. Jones, M. O. Hare, and D. M. Kammen 2006. Ethanol can contribute to energy and environmental goals. Science 311(5760): 506-508.
7. First Solar. 2011. First Solar overview. Accessed 20 June 2011.
8. Forster, P., V. Ramaswamy, P. Artaxo, T. Berntsen, R. Betts, D. W. Fahey, J. Haywood, J. Lean, D. C. Lowe, G. Myhre, J. Nganga, R. Prinn, G. Raga, M. Schulz, and R. V. Dorland 2007. Changes in atmospheric constituents and in radiative forcing. In Climate change 2007: The physical science basis, edited by S. Solomon et al. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.
9. Frankl, P., A. Corrado, and S. Lombardelli 2004. Photovoltaic (PV) systems: Final report. Rome : Ambiente Italia.
10. Frischknecht, R., M. Tuchschmid, M. Faist Emmenegger, C. Bauer, and R. Dones 2007. Strommix und Stromnetz. Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen. Final report no. 6 ecoinvent data v2.0. Dübendorf, Switzerland : Swiss Centre for LCI.
11. Fthenakis, V. and E. Alsema 2006. Photovoltaics energy payback times, greenhouse gas emissions and external costs: 2004-early 2005 status. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications 14(3): 275-280.
12. Fthenakis, V. and H. C. Kim 2006. Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the life cycle of CdTe photovoltaics. Paper presented at the Materials Research Society symposium, 28 November-2 December, Boston
13. Fthenakis, V. M. and H. C. Kim 2007. Greenhouse-gas emissions from solar electric and nuclear power: A life-cycle study. Energy Policy 35(4): 2549-2557.
14. Fthenakis, V. M., H. C. Kim, and E. Alsema 2008. Emissions from photovoltaic life cycles. Environmental Science & Technology 42(6): 2168-2174.
15. Fthenakis, V., H. C. Kim, M. Held, M. Raugei, and J. Krones 2009. Update of PV energy payback times and life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. Presented at the 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 21-25 September, Hamburg, Germany
16. Held, M. 2010. Personal communication with M. Held, Abteilung Ganzheitliche Bilanzierung, LBP, University of Stuttgart. Germany ; October.
17. Hondo, H. 2005. Life cycle GHG emission analysis of power generation systems: Japanese case. Energy 30(11-12): 2042-2056.
18. Ito, M. 2010. Personal communication with M. Ito, Tokyo Institute of Technology; October.
19. Ito, M., K. Kato, K. Komoto, T. Kichimi, and K. Kurokawa 2008. A comparative study on cost and life-cycle analysis for 100 MW very large-scale PV (VLS-PV) systems in deserts using m-Si, a-Si, CdTe, and CIS modules. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications 16(1): 17-30.
20. Ito, M., K. Komoto, and K. Kurokawa 2009. A comparative LCA study on potential of very-large scale PV systems in Gobi desert. Presented at the 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 7-12 June 2009, Philadelphia, PA, USA
21. Ito, M., K. Komoto, and K. Kurokawa 2010. Life-cycle analyses of very-large scale PV systems using six types of PV modules. Current Applied Physics 10: S271-S273.
22. Kato, K., T. Hibino, K. Komoto, S. Ihara, S. Yamamoto, and H. Fujihara 2001. Life-cycle analysis on thin-film CdS/CdTe PV modules. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 67(1-4): 279-287.
23. 2 emission of residential PV power system with silicon PV module. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications 6(2): 105-115.
24. Keoleian, G. A. and G. M. Lewis 2003. Modeling the life cycle energy and environmental performance of amorphous silicon BIPV roofing in the US. Renewable Energy 28(2): 271-293.
25. Martin, J. A. 1997. A total fuel cycle approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Solar generation technologies as greenhouse gas offsets in U.S. utility systems. Solar Energy 59(4-6): 195-203.
26. Mason, J. E., V. M. Fthenakis, T. Hansen, and H. C. Kim 2006. Energy payback and life-cycle CO2 emissions of the BOS in an optimized 3.5MW PV installation. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications 14(2): 179-190.
27. Meier, P. J. 2002. Life-cycle assessment of electricity generation systems and applications for climate change policy analysis thesis. Madison, WI : University of Wisconsin.
28. Pacca, S., D. Sivaraman, and G. Keoleian 2006. Life cycle assessment of the 33 kW photovoltaic system on the Dana Building at the University of Michigan: Thin film laminates, multi-crystalline modules, and balance of system components. CSS05-09. Ann Arbor, MI, USA : University of Michigan.
29. Pacca, S., D. Sivaraman, and G. A. Keoleian 2007. Parameters affecting the life cycle performance of PV technologies and systems. Energy Policy 35(6): 3316-3326.
30. Raugei, M. 2010. Personal communication with M. Raugei, Environmental Management Research Group, Escola Superior de Commerç Internacional-Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; October.
31. Raugei, M., S. Bargigli, and S. Ulgiati 2007. Life cycle assessment and energy pay-back time of advanced photovoltaic modules: CdTe and CIS compared to poly-Si. Energy 32(8): 1310-1318.
32. SENSE. 2008. LCA analysis: Sustainability evaluation of solar energy systems, revised version. Stuttgart, Germany : University of Stuttgart.
33. Uchiyama, Y. 1996a. Life cycle analysis of electricity generation and supply systems: Net energy analysis and greenhouse gas emissions. Paper presented at Electricity, Health and the Environment: Comparative Assessment in Support of Decision Making, 16-19 October, Vienna, Austria
34. Uchiyama, Y. 1996b. Validity of FENCH-GHG study: Methodologies and databases. Comparison of energy sources in terms of their full-energy-chain emission factors of greenhouse gases. Paper presented at the IAEA advisory group meeting on analysis of net energy balance and full-energy-chain greenhouse gas emissions for nuclear and other energy systems, 4-7 October, Beijing, China
35. Uchiyama, Y. 1997. Life cycle analysis of photovoltaic cell and wind power plants. Paper presented at the IAEA advisory group meeting on the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the full energy chain of solar and wind power, 21-24 October, Vienna, Austria
36. 2 emissions. Energy Conversion and Management 36(6-9): 819-822.