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Comparing Various Indicators for the LCA of Residential Photovoltaic Systems

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Book cover Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

This chapter presents a broad environmental evaluation of residential Photovoltaic (PV) systems. It focuses mainly on how variations in irradiation levels, assessment methodology, and the lifetime of the solar panel influence the perception regarding its sustainability. Data from the Ecoinvent Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) database and the literature were used and various Life-Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods were considered for six different PV types. The results indicate that variations in irradiation levels, methodology and lifetime can significantly influence the final results and conclusions of a LCA. By carefully selecting assumptions and methodology, one can clearly influence the perceived environmental impact of PV systems. In addition, we state that multidimensional indicators should be used along with the one-dimensional ones. Also, the choice of the perspective (Hierarchist, Egalitarian or Individualist) has a major impact on the final results. In our opinion, the current focus on Greenhouse Gas (GHG)-emissions and energy efficiency ignores important environmental impact dimensions such as resource depletion.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Quote from Préconsultancy report, manual for designers, page 4, http://teclim.ufba.br/jsf/ecodesign/dsgn0212.pdf.

  2. 2.

    STC = standard test conditions (25°C; 1,000 W/m; AM 1,5).

  3. 3.

    Cherubini et al. (2009) uses MJ/MJe, however, we prefer to use kWhprim/kWhel.

  4. 4.

    The environmental impact per kWp for large scale systems is generally slightly lower compared to small scale systems due to economies of scale.

  5. 5.

    More details on how these high figures for the EI 99 individualist perspective come about can be found in the literature Laleman et al. (2011).

  6. 6.

    The efficiency of a plant indicates how much electricity (MJel or kWhel) is produced from a MJ of primary energy, the energy contained in the fuel. The efficiency is thus a percentage with kWhprim/kWhel or MJprim/MJel as a unit. As shown, the FER has the inverse as unit (MJel/MJprim). This is why the inverse of the efficiency is a rough indicator of the FER.

  7. 7.

    The very low minimal FER for gas was found in Cherubini et al. 2009, however, an explanation for this low value is not given in the paper.

  8. 8.

    For more information see http://www.pvcycle.org/.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Tweekerkenstraat 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Ruben Laleman & Johan Albrecht

  2. Research Group ENVOC, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Jo Dewulf

Authors
  1. Ruben Laleman
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  2. Johan Albrecht
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  3. Jo Dewulf
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruben Laleman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New Delhi, India

    Anoop Singh

  2. PRODEM, Mol, Belgium

    Deepak Pant

  3. Bagsvaerd, Denmark

    Stig Irving Olsen

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Laleman, R., Albrecht, J., Dewulf, J. (2013). Comparing Various Indicators for the LCA of Residential Photovoltaic Systems. In: Singh, A., Pant, D., Olsen, S. (eds) Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5364-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5364-1_10

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