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Life‐cycle assessment of photovoltaic systems: results of Swiss studies on energy chains
Author(s) -
Dones Roberto,
Frischknecht Rolf
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-159x(199803/04)6:2<117::aid-pip209>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , photovoltaics , monocrystalline silicon , life cycle assessment , electricity , greenhouse gas , electricity system , environmental science , polycrystalline silicon , electricity generation , production (economics) , environmental economics , engineering , electrical engineering , silicon , materials science , nanotechnology , ecology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , layer (electronics) , biology , economics , metallurgy , macroeconomics , thin film transistor
The methodology used and results obtained for grid‐connected photovoltaic (PV) plants in recent Swiss life‐cycle assessment (LCA) studies on current and future energy systems are discussed. Mono‐ and polycrystalline silicon cell technologies utilized in current panels as well as monocrystalline and amorphous cells for future applications were analysed for Swiss conditions. The environmental inventories of slanted‐roof solar panels and large plants are presented. Greenhouse gas emissions from present and future electricity systems are compared. The high electricity requirements for manufacturing determine most of the environmental burdens associated with current photovoltaics. However, due to increasing efficiency of production processes and cells, the environmental performance of PV systems is likely to improve substantially in the future. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.