A life-cycle analysis on thin-film CdS/CdTe PV modules

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 279 - 287
• Main Authors: Kato, Kazuhiko, Hibino, Takeshi, Komoto, Keiichi, Ihara, Seijiro, Yamamoto, Shuji, Fujihara, Hideaki
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; CdS/CdTe solar cell; CO 2 emissions; Energy; Energy payback time; Exact sciences and technology; Life-cycle analysis; Natural energy; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; CdS/CdTe solar cell; Energy payback time; CO 2 emissions; Life-cycle analysis; Solar cell; Payback time; Thin film device; Semiconductor materials; Life cycle (environment); Cadmium tellurides; Carbon dioxide; Manufacturing; Cadmium sulfide; Pollutant emission; Photovoltaic conversion
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/S0927-0248(00)00293-2

Authors have evaluated the life cycle of a thin-film CdS/CdTe PV module to estimate the energy payback time (EPT) and the life-cycle CO 2 emissions of a residential rooftop PV system using the CdS/CdTe PV modules. The primary energy requirement for producing 1 m 2 of the CdS/CdTe PV module was similar to a-Si PV module at annual production scale of 100 MW. EPT was calculated at 1.7–1.1 yr, which was much shorter than the lifetime of the PV system and similar to that of a-Si PV modules. The life-cycle CO 2 emissions were also estimated at 14–9 g-C/kWh, which was less than that of electricity generated by utility companies.