The potential for further reduction in the embodied carbon in PV solar energy systems

摘要

A considerably body of literature exists on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of PV solar modules and balance of system components. The carbon footprint of PV systems is largely attributed to the use of energy during manufacture of the components and in particular the PV module. De Wild-Scholten [1] has estimated that for multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) the carbon footprint can be as low as 49 gCO_2e/kWh but three quarters of the carbon contribution comes from the manufacture of the PV cells and the module. The range of carbon footprint estimates can be large depending on where the cells and modules are manufactured and depends on location and orientation of the installed system.