A path to reduce variability of the environmental footprint results of photovoltaic systems

Gazbour, Nouha; Razongles, G.; Monnier, Elise; Joanny, M.; Charbuillet, Carole; Burgun, Françoise; Schaeffer, Christian

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.276

Cited by 23 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In the case of PV panels and batteries, the energy mix of the manufacturing plays a huge role on how much GHG is emitted (De Decker, 2015). This and other factors such as the efficiency or lifespan entail GWP of both batteries and PV modules to be uncertain (Gazbour et al , 2018; Peters, 2017). We establish an analogy between economic and environmental costs.…”

Section: New Considerations In the Modelling Of Energy Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Including greenhouse gas emissions and behavioural responses in the optimal design of PV self-sufficient energy communities

Hodencq

Coignard

Twum-Duah

et al. 2022

COMPEL

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Purpose This paper aims to consider both the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and behavioural response in the optimal sizing of solar photovoltaic systems (PV modules and batteries) for energy communities. The objective is to achieve a high self-sufficiency rate whilst taking into account the grid carbon intensity and the global warming potential of system components. Design/methodology/approach Operation and sizing of energy communities leads to optimization problems spanning across multiple timescales. To compute the optimisation in a reasonable time, the authors first apply a simulation periods reduction using a clustering approach, before solving a linear programming problem. Findings The results show that the minimum GHG emissions is achieved for self-sufficiency rates of 19% in France and 50% in Germany. Research limitations/implications The analysis is restricted to specific residential profiles: further work will focus on exploring different types of consumption profiles. Practical implications This paper provides relevant self-sufficiency orders of magnitude for energy communities. Originality/value This paper combines various approaches in a single use case: environmental considerations, behavioural response as well as multi-year energy system sizing.

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Section: New Considerations In the Modelling Of Energy Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Including greenhouse gas emissions and behavioural responses in the optimal design of PV self-sufficient energy communities

Hodencq

Coignard

Twum-Duah

et al. 2022

COMPEL

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“…System boundaries, data quality, and methodological choices can also explain the remaining variability. 10,11 With harmonized values corresponding to an average Southern Europe solar irradiation level and PV system performance in 2012, the median value obtained is around 50 gCO2eq/kWh. 9 Higher carbon footprints are expected for locations with a lower solar irradiation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previously published studies highlighted the need to consider updated data in the LCA of photovoltaic systems to avoid a misrepresentation of its environmental impacts. 10,15 Indeed, past eco-design considerations have already improved the environmental performance of PV energy. 16,17 In addition to past or present environmental footprints, prospective environmental footprints should be assessed and used to know if the expected evolution of photovoltaic industry will contribute to enhancing the environmental performance of PV.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other factors such as the electricity mix used for PV panel manufacturing, the type of installation, and, to a lesser extent, its size can influence the carbon footprint of photovoltaic energy production. System boundaries, data quality, and methodological choices can also explain the remaining variability 10,11 . With harmonized values corresponding to an average Southern Europe solar irradiation level and PV system performance in 2012, the median value obtained is around 50 gCO2eq/kWh 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previously published studies highlighted the need to consider updated data in the LCA of photovoltaic systems to avoid a misrepresentation of its environmental impacts 10,15 . Indeed, past eco‐design considerations have already improved the environmental performance of PV energy 16,17 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An open‐source parameterized life cycle model to assess the environmental performance of silicon‐based photovoltaic systems

Besseau¹,

Tannous²,

Douziech³

et al. 2023

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Despite being renewable, photovoltaic energy is not burden‐free, since energy and materials are necessary to manufacture, maintain, dismantle, and recycle photovoltaic systems. Over its life cycle, the assessed carbon footprint of silicon‐based photovoltaic energy published in the literature often ranges from 40 to 110 gCO2eq/kWh. However, most of these estimations rely on life cycle inventory (LCI) data that represent the early‐stage performance of the photovoltaic industry. Indeed, collecting LCI data is time‐consuming and practitioners often reuse existing outdated data, which becomes problematic as the photovoltaic industry has been rapidly and significantly evolving. This analysis relies on the parametrization of existing LCI data to better account for the progress already accomplished by the photovoltaic industry. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model, called PARASOL_LCA, is thus developed. The results of the analysis highlight that the use of outdated LCI data leads to an overestimation of environmental impacts of photovoltaic energy by a factor of 2 or even more for the best current available technologies. The analysis also shows that PARASOL_LCA, with its numerous parameters, can also serve to assess the environmental performance of prospective photovoltaic technologies and to identify impact reduction levers through sensitivity analysis.

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Design for the environment: SHJ module with ultra‐low carbon footprint

Béjat,

Gazbour,

Boulanger

et al. 2024

Progress in Photovoltaics

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The photovoltaic (PV) industry is reaching an inflection point to become a major source of energy. Last decades brought important technical progression in modules' yield and durability. Already available technical solutions might reach the highest power output and the lowest environmental impact in a module. Nevertheless, cost remains the major driver for innovation; top PV panels must combine cost/delay/yield to reach reasonable market share. Our paper presents the development of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) modules with exemplary power and reliability with significantly reduced environmental impact and components sourced from Europe. In order to guide the technology choice in the design phase, we performed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) sensitivity study. For a standard PV module, we identify the main steps to improve in order to reduce its environmental footprint. This guided us to tackle the components with the highest impact on the carbon footprint, namely the wafer, glass front sheet and aluminium frame. The proposed improvements will be tested from technical and economic point of view and assembled within one PV module. At the cell scale, we achieved the reduction of the carbon footprint by reducing the thickness of the wafers issued from the European value chain. Optimisation of metallisation and cell interconnection has limited the consumption of silver (Ag), a critical raw metal. At the module level, we implemented the reduction of glass thickness and the replacement of the aluminium frame with a natural fibre‐based frame in a glass‐backsheet module configuration. In addition, we applied a ‘design for recycling’ approach for the choice of encapsulant and backsheet. The combination of these innovations led us to the realisation of a 566‐Wp recyclable module using a tiling interconnection, cells with an average efficiency of 22.57% with a carbon footprint of 313 kgCO2eq/kWp.

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A path to reduce variability of the environmental footprint results of photovoltaic systems

Cited by 23 publications

References 24 publications

Including greenhouse gas emissions and behavioural responses in the optimal design of PV self-sufficient energy communities

Including greenhouse gas emissions and behavioural responses in the optimal design of PV self-sufficient energy communities

An open‐source parameterized life cycle model to assess the environmental performance of silicon‐based photovoltaic systems

Design for the environment: SHJ module with ultra‐low carbon footprint

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