This white paper uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to identify key environmental hotspots in the solar PV supply chain and offers strategies for reducing embodied carbon.
What impact do solar cells have on the environment?
It is identified that the majority of existing life cycle assessments on solar cells take into account four typical environmental impacts: energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, material depletion, and toxicity.
4.6. Hotspots identification The manufacturing stage is identified as the hotspot during the whole life cycle of the solar cells. This stage is responsible for a large share of several environmental impacts, regardless of the type of solar cells.
What are the environmental impacts of a solar PV module?
A solar PV module using this technology has thin layers that contain materials such as CdTe and CdS. Here, Cd is the most toxic substance. It has substantial environmental impacts and its release into the atmosphere causes health impacts. Cd emissions from CdTe are around 0.26 g/GWh.
How to assess environmental impacts of PV systems?
Methods to assess environmental impacts The environmental impacts associated with PV systems can be estimated in two different ways. The first is by using conventional methods that deal with energy balance and carbon footprint calculation. The second is the use of advanced simulation tools that have the entire life cycle data inventory support.
Does solar PV supply chain impact environmental impact?
Nonetheless, assessment of environmental impact of production processes through the PV technology supply chain is essential to ensure its sustainability and this work outlines the environmental cost of solar PV supply chain for the US and China as leading global PV manufacturers with significant local reserves of silicon.
What are the environmental costs associated with silicon flows used in solar PV?
Data are available in Supplementary Information (#5). The environmental costs associated with silicon flows used in solar PV manufacturing include factors such as energy consumption, water usage, emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, as well as the impact on local ecosystems and communities.