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Modeling the life cycle energy and environmental performance of amorphous silicon BIPV roofing in the US

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  • Keoleian, Gregory A.
  • Lewis, Geoffrey McD.

Abstract

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) perform traditional architectural functions of walls and roofs while also generating electricity. The displacement of utility generated electricity and conventional building materials can conserve fossil fuels and have environmental benefits. A life cycle inventory model is presented that characterizes the energy and environmental performance of BIPV systems relative to the conventional grid and displaced building materials. The model is applied to an amorphous silicon PV roofing shingle in different regions across the US. The electricity production efficiency (electricity output/total primary energy input excluding insolation) for a reference BIPV system (2kWp PV shingle system with a 6% conversion efficiency and 20 year life) ranged from 3.6 in Portland OR to 5.9 in Phoenix, AZ indicating a significant return on energy investment. The reference system had the greatest air pollution prevention benefits in cities with conventional electricity generation mixes dominated by coal and natural gas, not necessarily in cities where the insolation and displaced conventional electricity were greatest.

Suggested Citation

  • Keoleian, Gregory A. & Lewis, Geoffrey McD., 2003. "Modeling the life cycle energy and environmental performance of amorphous silicon BIPV roofing in the US," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 271-293.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:28:y:2003:i:2:p:271-293
    DOI: 10.1016/S0960-1481(02)00022-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schaefer, Helmut & Hagedorn, Gerd, 1992. "Hidden energy and correlated environmental characteristics of P.V. power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 159-166.
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    1. Lamnatou, Chr. & Chemisana, D. & Mateus, R. & Almeida, M.G. & Silva, S.M., 2015. "Review and perspectives on Life Cycle Analysis of solar technologies with emphasis on building-integrated solar thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 833-846.
    2. Heller, Martin C & Keoleian, Gregory A & Mann, Margaret K & Volk, Timothy A, 2004. "Life cycle energy and environmental benefits of generating electricity from willow biomass," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 1023-1042.
    3. Sivaraman, Deepak & Moore, Michael R., 2012. "Economic performance of grid-connected photovoltaics in California and Texas (United States): The influence of renewable energy and climate policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 274-287.
    4. Tripathy, M. & Sadhu, P.K. & Panda, S.K., 2016. "A critical review on building integrated photovoltaic products and their applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 451-465.
    5. Sivaraman, Deepak & Keoleian, Gregory A., 2010. "Photovoltaic (PV) electricity: Comparative analyses of CO2 abatement at different fuel mix scales in the US," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 5708-5718, October.
    6. Hammond, Geoffrey P. & Harajli, Hassan A. & Jones, Craig I. & Winnett, Adrian B., 2012. "Whole systems appraisal of a UK Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system: Energy, environmental, and economic evaluations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 219-230.
    7. Nicholls, A. & Sharma, R. & Saha, T.K., 2015. "Financial and environmental analysis of rooftop photovoltaic installations with battery storage in Australia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 252-264.
    8. Ng, Poh Khai & Mithraratne, Nalanie, 2014. "Lifetime performance of semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glazing systems in the tropics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 736-745.
    9. Tong, Yueheng & Yang, Wei, 2022. "Numerical analysis and experimental study on the thermoelectric characteristics of the Al–Si alloy used for building energy storage tile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1447-1457.
    10. Lizin, Sebastien & Leroy, Julie & Delvenne, Catherine & Dijk, Marc & De Schepper, Ellen & Van Passel, Steven, 2013. "A patent landscape analysis for organic photovoltaic solar cells: Identifying the technology's development phase," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 5-11.
    11. Jo, J.H. & Otanicar, T.P., 2011. "A hierarchical methodology for the mesoscale assessment of building integrated roof solar energy systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 2992-3000.
    12. Tiantian Zhang & Meng Wang & Hongxing Yang, 2018. "A Review of the Energy Performance and Life-Cycle Assessment of Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-34, November.

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