IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v195y2022icp906-917.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Life cycle assessment of organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells with graphene transparent electrodes

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Qingxiang
  • Monticelli, Carol
  • Zanelli, Alessandra

Abstract

Indium Tin Oxide as the transparent electrode in solar cells has shown a bottleneck due to the use of scarce mental. The graphene transparent electrode (GTE) opens a sustainable route for third-generation solar cells. This work investigates the environmental performance of flexible organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells with GTEs by life cycle assessment. The manufacturing process of solar cells is developed including detailed production procedures of GTEs. The comprehensive life cycle inventories (LCIs) are provided for two kinds of solar cells. According to LCIs, life cycle impact assessment is carried on to unmask various impact categories in their full life cycles. Sensitivity analyses using the Monte Carlo method are conducted to quantify the uncertainty of final environmental impacts. The results prove that perovskite solar cells with GTEs have the shortest Energy Payback Time. A longer lifespan of both solar cells should be pursued to meet the requirement of sustainable manufacture.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Qingxiang & Monticelli, Carol & Zanelli, Alessandra, 2022. "Life cycle assessment of organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells with graphene transparent electrodes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 906-917.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:195:y:2022:i:c:p:906-917
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.06.075
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148122009077
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2022.06.075?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Keun Soo Kim & Yue Zhao & Houk Jang & Sang Yoon Lee & Jong Min Kim & Kwang S. Kim & Jong-Hyun Ahn & Philip Kim & Jae-Young Choi & Byung Hee Hong, 2009. "Large-scale pattern growth of graphene films for stretchable transparent electrodes," Nature, Nature, vol. 457(7230), pages 706-710, February.
    2. Sherwani, A.F. & Usmani, J.A. & Varun, 2010. "Life cycle assessment of solar PV based electricity generation systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 540-544, January.
    3. Krebs-Moberg, Miles & Pitz, Mandy & Dorsette, Tiara L. & Gheewala, Shabbir H., 2021. "Third generation of photovoltaic panels: A life cycle assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 556-565.
    4. Ludin, Norasikin Ahmad & Mustafa, Nur Ifthitah & Hanafiah, Marlia M. & Ibrahim, Mohd Adib & Asri Mat Teridi, Mohd & Sepeai, Suhaila & Zaharim, Azami & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman, 2018. "Prospects of life cycle assessment of renewable energy from solar photovoltaic technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 11-28.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Li, Qingxiang & Long, Lingege & Li, Xinwei & Yang, Guidong & Bian, Chenhang & Zhao, Benyun & Chen, Xi & Chen, Ben M., 2025. "Life cycle cost analysis of circular photovoltaic façade in dense urban environment using 3D modeling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    2. Onwuemezie, Linus, 2024. "Rural development through solar and pyrolysis systems: Towards energy sustainability," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PA).
    3. Galimshina, Alina & McCarty, Justin & Waibel, Christoph & Schlueter, Arno & Hollberg, Alexander, 2024. "High-resolution parametric embodied impact configurator for PV and BIPV systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    4. Li, Qingxiang & Yang, Guidong & Bian, Chenhang & Long, Lingege & Wang, Xinyi & Gao, Chuanxiang & Wong, Choi Lam & Huang, Yijun & Zhao, Benyun & Chen, Xi & Chen, Ben M., 2025. "Autonomous design framework for deploying building integrated photovoltaics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    5. Qi, Xiaoyan & Yao, Xilong & Guo, Pibin & Han, Yunfei & Liu, Lin, 2024. "Applying life cycle assessment to investigate the environmental impacts of a PV–CSP hybrid system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    6. Meng, Xian-long & Zheng, Ao-zhou & Li, xin-yuan & Mallick, Tapas K. & Liu, Cun-liang, 2024. "Multi-field coupling analysis of photovoltaic cells under long distance and multi-mode laser transmission," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    7. Norouzi, Masoud & Haddad, Assed N. & Jiménez, Laureano & Mohajerani, Mostafa & Boer, Dieter, 2025. "Long-term decarbonization prediction of buildings accounting for temporal variations in grid and material emission factors: A case study of timber-framed passive houses in the United Kingdom," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bany Mousa, Osama & Kara, Sami & Taylor, Robert A., 2019. "Comparative energy and greenhouse gas assessment of industrial rooftop-integrated PV and solar thermal collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 113-123.
    2. Wu, Xudong & Li, Chaohui & Shao, Ling & Meng, Jing & Zhang, Lixiao & Chen, Guoqian, 2021. "Is solar power renewable and carbon-neutral: Evidence from a pilot solar tower plant in China under a systems view," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    3. Hai Lu & Jiaquan Yang & Kari Alanne, 2018. "Energy Quality Management for a Micro Energy Network Integrated with Renewables in a Tourist Area: A Chinese Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Maharjan, Prapti & Hauck, Mara & Kirkels, Arjan & Buettner, Benjamin & de Coninck, Heleen, 2024. "Deriving experience curves: A structured and critical approach applied to PV sector," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    5. Norasikin Ahmad Ludin & Nurfarhana Alyssa Ahmad Affandi & Kathleen Purvis-Roberts & Azah Ahmad & Mohd Adib Ibrahim & Kamaruzzaman Sopian & Sufian Jusoh, 2021. "Environmental Impact and Levelised Cost of Energy Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Selected Asia Pacific Region: A Cradle-to-Grave Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, January.
    6. Ludin, Norasikin Ahmad & Mustafa, Nur Ifthitah & Hanafiah, Marlia M. & Ibrahim, Mohd Adib & Asri Mat Teridi, Mohd & Sepeai, Suhaila & Zaharim, Azami & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman, 2018. "Prospects of life cycle assessment of renewable energy from solar photovoltaic technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 11-28.
    7. Prehoda, Emily W. & Pearce, Joshua M., 2017. "Potential lives saved by replacing coal with solar photovoltaic electricity production in the U.S," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 710-715.
    8. Naseri, Hakim & Parashkoohi, Mohammad Gholami & Ranjbar, Iraj & Zamani, Davood Mohammad, 2021. "Energy-economic and life cycle assessment of sugarcane production in different tillage systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    9. Halasah, Suleiman A. & Pearlmutter, David & Feuermann, Daniel, 2013. "Field installation versus local integration of photovoltaic systems and their effect on energy evaluation metrics," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 462-471.
    10. Gerbinet, Saïcha & Belboom, Sandra & Léonard, Angélique, 2014. "Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of photovoltaic panels: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 747-753.
    11. Irfan, Muhammad & Iqbal, Jamshed & Iqbal, Adeel & Iqbal, Zahid & Riaz, Raja Ali & Mehmood, Adeel, 2017. "Opportunities and challenges in control of smart grids – Pakistani perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 652-674.
    12. Bocca, Alberto & Chiavazzo, Eliodoro & Macii, Alberto & Asinari, Pietro, 2015. "Solar energy potential assessment: An overview and a fast modeling approach with application to Italy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 291-296.
    13. Susana Toboso‐Chavero & Gara Villalba & Xavier Gabarrell Durany & Cristina Madrid‐López, 2021. "More than the sum of the parts: System analysis of the usability of roofs in housing estates," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1284-1299, October.
    14. Wu, Le & Yang, Yong & Yan, Ting & Wang, Yuqi & Zheng, Lan & Qian, Kun & Hong, Furong, 2020. "Sustainable design and optimization of co-processing of bio-oil and vacuum gas oil in an existing refinery," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    15. Fabian Schoden & Anna Katharina Schnatmann & Tomasz Blachowicz & Hildegard Manz-Schumacher & Eva Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, 2022. "Circular Design Principles Applied on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-32, November.
    16. Ali, Hayder & Khan, Hassan Abbas, 2020. "Techno-economic evaluation of two 42 kWp polycrystalline-Si and CIS thin-film based PV rooftop systems in Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 347-357.
    17. Wang, Lunche & Qiu, Tianzhi & Zhang, Ming & Cao, Qian & Qin, Wenmin & Wang, Shaoqiang & Wang, Lizhe & Chen, Deliang & Wild, Martin, 2024. "Carbon emissions and reduction performance of photovoltaic systems in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    18. Tyagi, V.V. & Rahim, Nurul A.A. & Rahim, N.A. & Selvaraj, Jeyraj A./L., 2013. "Progress in solar PV technology: Research and achievement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 443-461.
    19. M. A. Parvez Mahmud & Nazmul Huda & Shahjadi Hisan Farjana & Candace Lang, 2018. "Environmental Impacts of Solar-Photovoltaic and Solar-Thermal Systems with Life-Cycle Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    20. Turconi, Roberto & Boldrin, Alessio & Astrup, Thomas, 2013. "Life cycle assessment (LCA) of electricity generation technologies: Overview, comparability and limitations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 555-565.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:195:y:2022:i:c:p:906-917. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.