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Review of the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Different Photovoltaic and Concentrating Solar Power Electricity Generation Systems

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  • Raghava Kommalapati

    (Center for Energy & Environmental Sustainability, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
    Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA)

  • Akhil Kadiyala

    (Center for Energy & Environmental Sustainability, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA)

  • Md. Tarkik Shahriar

    (Center for Energy & Environmental Sustainability, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
    Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA)

  • Ziaul Huque

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA)

Abstract

This paper contains an extensive review of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from different material-based photovoltaic (PV) and working mechanism-based concentrating solar power (CSP) electricity generation systems. Statistical evaluation of the life cycle GHG emissions is conducted to assess the role of different PVs and CSPs in reducing GHG emissions. The widely-used parabolic trough and central receiver CSP electricity generation systems emitted approximately 50% more GHGs than the paraboloidal dish, solar chimney, and solar pond CSP electricity generation systems. The cadmium telluride PVs and solar pond CSPs contributed to minimum life cycle GHGs. Thin-film PVs are also suitable for wider implementation, due to their lower Energy Pay-Back Time (EPBT) periods, in addition to lower GHG emission, in comparison with c-Si PVs.

Suggested Citation

  • Raghava Kommalapati & Akhil Kadiyala & Md. Tarkik Shahriar & Ziaul Huque, 2017. "Review of the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Different Photovoltaic and Concentrating Solar Power Electricity Generation Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:3:p:350-:d:92833
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    References listed on IDEAS

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