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A simple lower bound on the EROI of photovoltaic electricity generation

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  • Pickard, William F.

Abstract

Two conceptually and computationally simple techniques (one optimistic, the other pessimistic) are introduced to estimate the energy payback time of a photovoltaic array. Both yield values of the Energy Returned On energy Invested (EROI) in excess of approximately 5. Therefore solar photovoltaic electricity appears to be a stably sustainable source of renewable energy.

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  • Pickard, William F., 2017. "A simple lower bound on the EROI of photovoltaic electricity generation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 488-490.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:107:y:2017:i:c:p:488-490
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.05.022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ferroni, Ferruccio & Hopkirk, Robert J., 2016. "Energy Return on Energy Invested (ERoEI) for photovoltaic solar systems in regions of moderate insolation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 336-344.
    2. Lo Piano, Samuele & Mayumi, Kozo, 2017. "Toward an integrated assessment of the performance of photovoltaic power stations for electricity generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(P2), pages 167-174.
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    4. David J. Murphy & Michael Carbajales-Dale & Devin Moeller, 2016. "Comparing Apples to Apples: Why the Net Energy Analysis Community Needs to Adopt the Life-Cycle Analysis Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
    5. Koppelaar, R.H.E.M., 2017. "Solar-PV energy payback and net energy: Meta-assessment of study quality, reproducibility, and results harmonization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1241-1255.
    6. Enrica Leccisi & Marco Raugei & Vasilis Fthenakis, 2016. "The Energy and Environmental Performance of Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Systems—A Timely Update," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-13, August.
    7. Raugei, Marco & Sgouridis, Sgouris & Murphy, David & Fthenakis, Vasilis & Frischknecht, Rolf & Breyer, Christian & Bardi, Ugo & Barnhart, Charles & Buckley, Alastair & Carbajales-Dale, Michael & Csala, 2017. "Energy Return on Energy Invested (ERoEI) for photovoltaic solar systems in regions of moderate insolation: A comprehensive response," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 377-384.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Marco Vittorio Ecclesia & João Santos & Paul E. Brockway & Tiago Domingos, 2022. "A Comprehensive Societal Energy Return on Investment Study of Portugal Reveals a Low but Stable Value," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Hongshuo Yan & Lianyong Feng & Jianliang Wang & Yuanying Chi & Yue Ma, 2021. "A Comprehensive Net Energy Analysis and Outlook of Energy System in China," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 6(4), pages 1-14, December.
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    5. Walmsley, Timothy G. & Walmsley, Michael R.W. & Varbanov, Petar S. & Klemeš, Jiří J., 2018. "Energy Ratio analysis and accounting for renewable and non-renewable electricity generation: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 328-345.

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