Comparative Ecological Based Life Cycle Assessment of Multi- Crystalline PV Technology and Coal Electric Power

Authors

  • Benjamin Lang The University of Queensland
  • Anthony Halog The University of Queensland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2015.04.02.3

Keywords:

Eco-LCA, multi-Si PV, ecosystem goods services, solar, exergy, coal

Abstract

Multicrystalline (multi-Si) photovoltaic (PV) technology is increasingly common throughout Australia and the developed world, as renewable energy technologies become viable electrical generation alternatives to coal and nuclear power. We have examined the cradle-to-grave life cycle of a 3kWp multi-Si PV system within Australia. The highest contribution of environmental impacts results from the usage of fossil fuel energy resources and their emissions at the pre-production and manufacturing stages. We analyze the impacts of multi-Si technology on ecosystem goods and services (EGS) and compared it with impacts resulting from coal power electricity. For 3kWp multi-Si system, coal, crude oil and iron ore were the critical resources consumed from the lithosphere while the public supply of water was consumed from the hydrosphere. For coal power electricity, coal and water were the resources most consumed from both the lithosphere and hydrosphere. However the resource consumption from coal power electricity is significantly larger than that of multi-Si PV. Coal power electricity is also responsible for much greater energy and exergy consumption compared to multi-Si PV. The main ecosystem disturbances resulting from the lifecycle of a 3kWp multi-Si unit affect supporting and regulating services though these disturbances are considerably lower than the services impacted from coal power electricity. The study concludes that similar analysis performed on another PV technology would provide a greater understanding to the Eco-LCA results for multi-Si PV technology, particularly with relation to exergy analysis.

Author Biographies

Benjamin Lang, The University of Queensland

School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management

Anthony Halog, The University of Queensland

School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management

References

APVI. Australian PV market since April 2001. Australian PV Institute, 2015 [cited 2015 April 26]; Available from: http://pv-map.apvi.org.au/analyses

Wäger PA, Lang DJ, Wittmer D, Bleischwitz R, Hagelüken C. Towards a more sustainable use of scarce metals: a review of intervention options along the metals life cycle. Gaia 2012; 21: 300-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.21.4.15

Geyer R, Stoms D, Kallaos J. Spatially-explicit life cycle assessment of sun-to-wheels transportation pathways in the US. Environ Sci Technol 2013; 47: 1170-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es302959h DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es302959h

Sivaraman D, Horne RE. Regulatory potential for increasing small scale grid connected photovoltaic (PV) deployment in Australia. Energy Policy 2011; 39: 586-95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.10.030 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.10.030

Hsu DD, O’Donoughue P, Fthenakis V, et al. Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of crystalline silicon photovoltaic electricity generation. J Industrial Ecol 2012; 16: S122-S35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00439.x

CEF. An overview of the Clean Energy Legislative Package. Canberra: Clean Energy Future Australian Government 2012.

Parkinson G. Australia may have up to 10GW of solar PV by 2017. Renew Economy [Internet] 2013 March 13, 2013.

Hannam P. Solar panel take-up heads towards the millionth home. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2012 October 10, 2012; Sect. Environment.

Parkinson G. Australian PV installations to fall, but solar hot water to rise. Renew Economy [Internet]. 2013 March 13, 2013.

Dunbar A, Egan R. Australia reaches 4GW installed solar. Australian PV Institute, 2014 [cited 2015 April 25]; Available from: http://www.pv-tech.org/news/ja_solar_starts_ production_of_mwt_solar_cell_technology_from_ecn

Everts S. Making Solar Panels Greener. Chemical & Engineering News [Internet] 2011; 89(8): 37-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cen021511170038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/cen-v089n008.p037

Osborne M. JA Solar starts production of MWT solar cell technology from ECN. PV Tech [Internet]. 2013 April 27, 2013. Available from: http://www.pv-tech.org/news/ja_solar_ starts_production_of_mwt_solar_cell_technology_from_ecn

Stoppato A. Life cycle assessment of photovoltaic electricity generation. Energy 2008; 33(2): 224-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2007.11.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2007.11.012

Solarplaza. Top 10 World's Most Efficient Solar PV Modules (Mono-Crystalline). Solarplaza; 2012 [cited 2013 April 27]; Available from: http://www.solarplaza.com/top10-crystalline-module-efficiency/

Ibrahim A, El-Amin AA. Etching, Evaporated Contacts and Antireflection Coating on Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cell. International Journal of Renewable Energy Research 2012; 2(3): 356-62.

Papadopoulou EVM. Photovoltaic Energy. Photovoltaic Industrial Systems. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2011; pp. 31-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16301-2_4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16301-2_4

Tsoutsos T, Frantzeskaki N, Gekas V. Environmental impacts from the solar energy technologies. Energy Policy 2005; 33(3): 289-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0301-4215(03)00241-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-4215(03)00241-6

Fthenakis VM, Kim HC, Alsema E. Emissions from Photovoltaic Life Cycles. Environmental Science & Technology 2008; 42(6): 2168-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es071763q DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es071763q

CFR. Ecologically-Based Life Cycle Assessment (Eco-LCA). Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio State University; 2012 [cited 2013 February 21]; Available from: http://resilience.eng.ohio-state.edu/eco-lca/index.htm

Neupane B, Halog A, Lilieholm RJ. Environmental Sustainability of Wood-derived Ethanol: A Life Cycle Evaluation of Resource Intensity and Emissions in Maine, USA. Journal of Cleaner Production 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.11.039

Baral A, Bakshi BR. Thermodynamic Metrics for Aggregation of Natural Resources in Life Cycle Analysis: Insight via Application to Some Transportation Fuels. Environmental Science & Technology 2010; 44(2): 800-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es902571b DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es902571b

Wall G. Exergy, Ecology and Democracy - Concepts of a Vital Society or A Proposal for An Exergy Tax. In: Szargut J, et al, editor. ENSEC'93, International Conference on Energy Systems and Ecology; Krakow, Poland: EOLSS 1993; p. 111.

Saidur R, BoroumandJazi G, Mekhlif S, Jameel M. Exergy analysis of solar energy applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2012; 16(1): 350-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.162 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.162

Akyuz E, Coskun C, Oktay Z, Dincer I. A novel approach for estimation of photovoltaic exergy efficiency. Energy 2012; 44(1): 1059-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.04.036 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.04.036

UKEOF. UK-Environment Observation Framework (UK-EOF) Statement of Need: Lithosphere & Pedosphere Observation Requirements. Swindon, United Kingdom: UK-EOF 2010.

Ukidwe NU. Thermodynamic Input-Output Analysis of Economic and Ecological Systems for Sustainable Engineering. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University 2005.

Downloads

Published

2015-06-15

How to Cite

Lang, B., & Halog, A. (2015). Comparative Ecological Based Life Cycle Assessment of Multi- Crystalline PV Technology and Coal Electric Power. Journal of Technology Innovations in Renewable Energy, 4(2), 65–72. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2015.04.02.3

Issue

Section

Articles