Application of life-cycle energy analysis to photovoltaic module design

✍ Scribed by Keoleian, Gregory A. (author);Lewis, Geoffrey Mc D. (author)

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 219 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1062-7995
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-159x(199707/08)5:4<287::aid-pip169>3.0.co;2-s

✦ Synopsis

This paper highlights results from a collaborative life-cycle design project between the University of Michigan, the US Environment Protection Agency and United Solar Systems Corporation. Energy analysis is a critical planning and design tool for photovoltaic (PV) modules. A set of model equations for evaluating the life-cycle energy performance of PV systems and other electricity-generating systems are presented. The total PV life-cycle, encompassing material production, manufacturing and assembly, use and end-of-life management, was investigated.

Three metrics Ð energy payback time, electricity production eciency and lifecycle conversion eciency Ð were de®ned for PV modules with and without balanceof-system (BOS) components. These metrics were evaluated for a United Solar UPM-880 amorphous silicon PV module based on average insolation in Detroit, Boulder and Phoenix. Based on these metrics, a minimum condition for assessing the sustainability of electricity-generating systems was proposed and discussed. The life-cycle energy analysis indicated that the aluminum frame is responsible for a signi®cant fraction of the energy invested in the UPM-880 module.