ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Use of solar energy release no CO2, SO2, or NO2
gases and don't contribute to global warming. Photovoltaic is now a proven
technology which is inherently safe as opposed to some dangerous electricity
generating technologies. Over its estimated life a photovoltaic module will
produce much more electricity then used in it's production and a 100 W
module will prevent the emission of over two tons of CO2.
Photovoltaic systems make no noise and cause no pollution in operation.
Solar energy is clean, silent, and freely available.
Photovoltaic modules, part of our environment
(courtesy: mstudio)
LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS
Reports
Methodology Guidelines on Life Cycle Assessment of Photovoltaic Electricity;
IEA PVPS Task 12, Subtask 20, LCA, Report IEA-PVPS T12-01:2009, October 2009.
Papers and other information
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Ftenakis, V. et al.: Life Cyle Assesment of Photovoltaics: Perceptions, Needs and Challenges;
31st IEEE Photovoltaic Specialistis Conference, Jan. 3-7, 2005, Orlando, FL.
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Ftenakis, V. et al.: Emissions from Photovoltaic Life Cycles;
Environ. Sci. Technol., 2008, 42 (6), pp 2168–2174, February 6, 2008.
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Koroneos, C. et al.: LCA of Multicrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Systems - Part 1:
Present Situation and Future Perspectives;
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment,
Volume 11, Number 2, 129-136.
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Koroneos, C. et al.: LCA of Multicrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Systems - Part 1:
Application on an Island Economy
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment,
Volume 11, Number 3, 183-188.
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ENERGY BALANCE
Reports
Life-Cycle Energy Balance
and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
of Nuclear Energy in Australia; A study undertaken for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
of the Australian Government, ISA, The University of Sydney, Australia,
November 2006.
Other
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE RECYCLING
Reports
Sander K. et al.:
Study on the Development of a take back and Recovery System
for Photovoltaic Products; PV-CYCLE, funded by BMU, co-funded by EPIA, BSW Solar,
November 2007.
Web sites
PV CYCLE
- PV CYCLE was founded in July 2007 to implement the photovoltaic industry’s
commitment to set up a voluntary take back and recycling programme for
end-of-life-modules and to take responsibility for PV modules throughout their
entire value chain.
Website also available in:
Sunicon
- In the SolarMaterial business division (Sunicon AG since 2009), we work on transforming, refining and recovering silicon materials with various origins. This usually has to do with co-products from the semi-conductor and solar industries. Modern classification machines and a crushing system are available for quality control, classification of the silicon pieces, sorting by line type and for crushing work.
Website also available in:
OTHER LITERATURE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Environmental impacts
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Reich, N.H. et al,: CO2 emissions of PV in the perspective of a
renewable energy economy; 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Conference, 3-7 September 2010, Milan, Italy.
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Sensfuß, F. et al.: Analysis of the Impact of Renewable Electricity
Generation on CO2 Emissions and Power Plant operation in Germany; Fraunhofer Institute
for systems and Innovation Research, Karlsruhe, 10. Symposium Energieinnovation, 13-15 Februar 2008, Graz, Austria.
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Klobasa, M., Ragwitz, M.: Gutachten zur CO2-Minderung im Stromsketor durch den Einsatz Erneuerbaren Energien; Bericht
für die Arbeitsgruppe Erneuerbare Energien Statistik (AGEE-Stat) im Auftrag des Zentrum
für Sonnenergie und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Fraunhofer
Institut für System und Innovationsforschung, Karlsruhe, Januar 2005.
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Beloin-Saint-Pierre D. et al.: Environmental Impact of PV systems:
effects of energy sources used in production of solar panels. 24th
European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, September 2009.
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Alsema, E., Nieuwlaar, E.:
Environmental Aspects of PV Power Systems;
IEA PVPS Task 1 Workshop, Report 97072, 25-27 June 1997.
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Alsema, E., de Wild-Scholten, M.J.:
The Real Environmental Impacts of Crystaline Silicon PV Modules: An Analysis
Based on up-to-date Manufacturers Data.
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Alsema, E., Phylipsen, G.J.M.: Environmental life-cycle assessment of
multicrystalline silicon solar cell modules; a study by commission of the
Netherlands Agency for Energy and the Environment, NOVEM, Department of Science,
Technology and Society Utrecht University, Report Number 95057, 1995
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Alsema, E.: Energy Requirements and CO2 Mitigation Potential of PV
Systems; Photovoltaics and the Environment. Keystone, CO, July 1998,
Workshop Proceedings. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Report Number BNL-52557, 1999.
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Aguado-Monsonet, M.A.: The environmental impact of photovoltaic technology; Task 6,
INTERSUDMED Project, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies Sevilla,
Spain, January 1998.
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Ftenakis, V.: Overview of Potential Hazards; Chapter VII in Practical Handbook of
Photovoltaics: Fundamentals and Applications; (Editors: T. Markvart and L.
Castañer), Elsevier, 2003.
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Ftenakis, V.: The Role of Hazard Analysis in PV Manufacture; 3rd World
Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC-3, May 12-16, 2003,
Osaka, Japan.
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Ftenakis, V.: EHS Issues in III-V Solar Cell Manufacturing; 3rd World Conference on
Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, WCPEC-3, May 12-16, 2003, Osaka, Japan.
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Ftenakis, V., Zweibel, K.: CdTe PV: Real and Perceived EHS Risks Presented at
the NCPV and Solar Program Review Meeting, March 24-26, 2003, Denver, CO.
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Morris, S., Ftenakis, V.: MARKAL Analysis of PV Capacity and CO2 Emissions/
Reduction in the US; 3rd World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion,
WCPEC-3, May 12-16, 2003, Osaka, Japan.
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Münchmeyer, T.:
EUROATOM - im Schatten der Öffentlichkeit;; Greenpeace International, 2002.
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Bernreuter, J.: Leichterer Rucksack, Killerargumente widerlegen (5); Photovoltaik
belastet die Umwelt Photon, 01/2003, p.51-52, p.65-66.
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Bernreuter, J.: Sichere Lösung, Killerargumente widerlegen (6); "Photovoltaik gefärdert die Gesundheit"; Photon, Februar 2003, p.57-61.
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Life-cycle analysis
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Dones, R.; Frischknecht, R.: Life Cycle Assessment of Photovoltaic Systems:
Results of Swiss Studies on Energy Chains; Appendix B-9. Environmental Aspects of
PV Power Systems. Utrecht, The Netherlands: Utrecht University, Report Number
97072, 1997.
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Kato, K.; Murata, A.; Sakuta, K.: Energy Payback Time and Life-Cycle CO2
Emission of Residential PV Power System with Silicon PV Module; Progress in
Photovoltaics, Research and Applications, 6, 110-115, 1998.
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Energy balance
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Knapp, K.E., Jester, T.L.: An Empirical Perspective on the
Energy Payback Time for
Photovoltaic Modules; Solar 2000 Conference, Madison, WI, 2000.
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Notton, G., M. Muselli, P. Poggi: Costing of a stand-alone photovoltaic system; Energy 23 (4), p.289-308, 1998.
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Harmon, C.:
Experience Curves of Photovoltaic Technology;
Interim Report IR-00-014, International Institute for Applied System Analysis,
Laxenburg, Austria, March 2000.
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Palz, W.; Zibetta, H.: Energy Pay-Back Time of Photovoltaic Modules; Solar Energy. Volume 10, Number 3-4, pp. 211-216, 1991.
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Module recycling
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Müller, A., Wambach, K., Alsema, E.:
Life Cycle Analysis Of a Solar Module Recycling Process;
20th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, 6-10 June 2005, Barcelona, Spain.
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Wambach, K.: Recycling von Solarmodulen und Solarzellen - Rückgewinnung von
Silicium und Verbindungshalbleitern; SIDAF - Aktuelle Situation und Perspektiven
der Abfallwirtschaft; TU Bergakademie, Freiberg, April 2002.
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