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Life cycle impact assessment of photovoltaic power generation from crystalline silicon-based solar modules in Nigeria

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  • Akinyele, D.O.
  • Rayudu, R.K.
  • Nair, N.K.C.

Abstract

This paper evaluates the life cycle impact (LCI) of a 1.5 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system. The LCI is examined in terms of the life cycle emission rate (LCER), global warming potential (GWP), cumulative energy demand (CED), energy payback time (EPT) and net energy ratio (NER), using six different locations - one from each of Nigeria's six geo-political zones as case studies. With a performance ratio of 80%, lifetime of 20–30 years, module efficiency of 15.4%, solar irradiation of 1493–2223 kWh/m2/yr, LCER of 37.3–72.2 g CO2/kWh and CED of 3800–8700 MJ eq., the GWP, EPT and NER values of 1907–5819 kg CO2-eq., 0.83–2.3 years and 7.08–36.17, respectively, are obtained. The significance of these results is that the lowest GWP and EPT, i.e. 1907 kg CO2-eq. and 0.83 years, are obtained for the location with the highest solar irradiation, while the highest values, i.e. 5819 kg CO2-eq. and 2.3 years, are obtained for the location with the lowest irradiation. Furthermore, the highest NER is obtained for the location with the highest irradiation while the lowest value has been obtained for the location having the lowest irradiation. The study provides an insight into the significance and impact of a location's solar energy potential on the environmental performance of a PV system, which can be useful for energy analysis, planning and decision-making purposes.

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  • Akinyele, D.O. & Rayudu, R.K. & Nair, N.K.C., 2017. "Life cycle impact assessment of photovoltaic power generation from crystalline silicon-based solar modules in Nigeria," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 537-549.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:101:y:2017:i:c:p:537-549
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.09.017
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    7. Campos-Guzmán, Verónica & García-Cáscales, M. Socorro & Espinosa, Nieves & Urbina, Antonio, 2019. "Life Cycle Analysis with Multi-Criteria Decision Making: A review of approaches for the sustainability evaluation of renewable energy technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 343-366.
    8. Costa, Vinicius B.F. & Capaz, Rafael S. & Bonatto, Benedito D., 2023. "Small steps towards energy poverty mitigation: Life cycle assessment and economic feasibility analysis of a photovoltaic and battery system in a Brazilian indigenous community," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    9. Miller, Ian & Gençer, Emre & Vogelbaum, Hilary S. & Brown, Patrick R. & Torkamani, Sarah & O'Sullivan, Francis M., 2019. "Parametric modeling of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from photovoltaic power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 760-774.
    10. Pinto, Mauricio Almeida & Frate, Cláudio Albuquerque & Rodrigues, Thiago Oliveira & Caldeira-Pires, Armando, 2020. "Sensitivity analysis of the carbon payback time for a Brazilian photovoltaic power plant," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    11. Mérida García, A. & Gallagher, J. & McNabola, A. & Camacho Poyato, E. & Montesinos Barrios, P. & Rodríguez Díaz, J.A., 2019. "Comparing the environmental and economic impacts of on- or off-grid solar photovoltaics with traditional energy sources for rural irrigation systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 895-904.
    12. Costa, Vinicius B.F. & Capaz, Rafael S. & Silva, Patrícia F. & Doyle, Gabriel & Aquila, Giancarlo & Coelho, Éden O. & de Lorenci, Eliane & Pereira, Lígia C. & Maciel, Letícia B. & Balestrassi, Pedro P, 2022. "Socioeconomic and environmental consequences of a new law for regulating distributed generation in Brazil: A holistic assessment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    13. Mehedi, Tanveer Hassan & Gemechu, Eskinder & Kumar, Amit, 2022. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and energy footprints of utility-scale solar energy systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    14. Yusuf. N. Chanchangi & Flossie Adu & Aritra Ghosh & Senthilarasu Sundaram & Tapas. K. Mallick, 2023. "Nigeria's energy review: Focusing on solar energy potential and penetration," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 5755-5796, July.
    15. Liu, Weidong & Jiang, Xiaohua & Li, Shaoshuai & Luo, Ji & Wen, Gen, 2020. "Photovoltaic module regional clustering in mainland China and application based on factors influencing field reliability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    16. Feng, Tian-tian & Gong, Xiao-lei & Guo, Yu-hua & Yang, Yi-sheng & Dong, Jun, 2019. "Regulatory mechanism design of GHG emissions in the electric power industry in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 187-201.
    17. Vincenzo Muteri & Maurizio Cellura & Domenico Curto & Vincenzo Franzitta & Sonia Longo & Marina Mistretta & Maria Laura Parisi, 2020. "Review on Life Cycle Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Panels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-38, January.

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