IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v11y2018i9p2346-d168002.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental Impacts of Solar-Photovoltaic and Solar-Thermal Systems with Life-Cycle Assessment

Author

Listed:
  • M. A. Parvez Mahmud

    (School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW-2109, Australia)

  • Nazmul Huda

    (School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW-2109, Australia)

  • Shahjadi Hisan Farjana

    (School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW-2109, Australia)

  • Candace Lang

    (School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW-2109, Australia)

Abstract

The demand for clean energy is strong, and the shift from fossil-fuel-based energy to environmentally friendly sources is the next step to eradicating the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Solar energy technology has been touted as one of the most promising sources for low-carbon, non-fossil fuel energy production. However, the true potential of solar-based technologies is established by augmenting efficiency through satisfactory environmental performance in relation to other renewable energy systems. This paper presents an environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA) of a solar-photovoltaic (PV) system and a solar-thermal system. Single crystalline Si solar cells are considered for the solar PV system and an evacuated glass tube collector is considered for the solar thermal system in this analysis. A life-cycle inventory (LCI) is developed considering all inputs and outputs to assess and compare the environmental impacts of both systems for 16 impact indicators. LCA has been performed by the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD), Impact 2002+, Cumulative Energy Demand (CED), Eco-points 97, Eco-indicator 99 and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methods, using SimaPro software. The outcomes reveal that a solar-thermal framework provides more than four times release to air ( 100 % ) than the solar-PV ( 23.26 % ), and the outputs by a solar-PV system to soil ( 27.48 % ) and solid waste ( 35.15 % ) are about one third that of solar-thermal. The findings also depict that the solar panels are responsible for the most impact in the considered systems. Moreover, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis has also been carried out for both frameworks, which reveal that Li-ion batteries and copper-indium-selenium (CIS)-solar collectors perform better than others for most of the considered impact categories. This study revealed that a superior environmental performance can be achieved by both systems through careful selection of the components, taking into account the toxicity aspects, and by minimizing the impacts related to the solar panel, battery and heat storage.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:9:p:2346-:d:168002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2346/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2346/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Esmeralda Neri & Daniele Cespi & Leonardo Setti & Erica Gombi & Elena Bernardi & Ivano Vassura & Fabrizio Passarini, 2016. "Biomass Residues to Renewable Energy: A Life Cycle Perspective Applied at a Local Scale," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Alexander T. Dale & André Frossard Pereira de Lucena & Joe Marriott & Bruno Soares Moreira Cesar Borba & Roberto Schaeffer & Melissa M. Bilec, 2013. "Modeling Future Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Impacts of Electricity Supplies in Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(7), pages 1-27, July.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Masruroh, Nur Aini & Li, Bo & Klemeš, Jiri, 2006. "Life cycle analysis of a solar thermal system with thermochemical storage process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 537-548.
    6. Atilgan, Burcin & Azapagic, Adisa, 2016. "An integrated life cycle sustainability assessment of electricity generation in Turkey," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 168-186.
    7. Nugent, Daniel & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2014. "Assessing the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from solar PV and wind energy: A critical meta-survey," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 229-244.
    8. 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.
    9. Judith A. Cherni & Raúl Olalde Font & Lucía Serrano & Felipe Henao & Antonio Urbina, 2016. "Systematic Assessment of Carbon Emissions from Renewable Energy Access to Improve Rural Livelihoods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, December.
    10. Jun Hou & Weifeng Zhang & Pei Wang & Zhengxia Dou & Liwei Gao & David Styles, 2017. "Greenhouse Gas Mitigation of Rural Household Biogas Systems in China: A Life Cycle Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-14, February.
    11. 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.
    12. Stoppato, A., 2008. "Life cycle assessment of photovoltaic electricity generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 224-232.
    13. Amponsah, Nana Yaw & Troldborg, Mads & Kington, Bethany & Aalders, Inge & Hough, Rupert Lloyd, 2014. "Greenhouse gas emissions from renewable energy sources: A review of lifecycle considerations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 461-475.
    14. Daniel Akinyele & Juri Belikov & Yoash Levron, 2017. "Battery Storage Technologies for Electrical Applications: Impact in Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-39, November.
    15. Santoyo-Castelazo, E. & Gujba, H. & Azapagic, A., 2011. "Life cycle assessment of electricity generation in Mexico," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 1488-1499.
    16. Chow, T.T., 2010. "A review on photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 365-379, February.
    17. 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.
    18. Burcin Atilgan & Adisa Azapagic, 2016. "Assessing the Environmental Sustainability of Electricity Generation in Turkey on a Life Cycle Basis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-24, January.
    19. Hou, Guofu & Sun, Honghang & Jiang, Ziying & Pan, Ziqiang & Wang, Yibo & Zhang, Xiaodan & Zhao, Ying & Yao, Qiang, 2016. "Life cycle assessment of grid-connected photovoltaic power generation from crystalline silicon solar modules in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 882-890.
    20. Debabrata Das & R Srinivasan & A. Sharfuddin, 2011. "Fossil Fuel Consumption, Carbon Emissions and Temperature Variation in India," Energy & Environment, , vol. 22(6), pages 695-709, August.
    21. Serena Righi & Filippo Baioli & Alessandro Dal Pozzo & Alessandro Tugnoli, 2018. "Integrating Life Cycle Inventory and Process Design Techniques for the Early Estimate of Energy and Material Consumption Data," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-23, April.
    22. Ardente, Fulvio & Beccali, Giorgio & Cellura, Maurizio & Lo Brano, Valerio, 2005. "Life cycle assessment of a solar thermal collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(7), pages 1031-1054.
    23. Arnaoutakis, Nektarios & Souliotis, Manolis & Papaefthimiou, Spiros, 2017. "Comparative experimental Life Cycle Assessment of two commercial solar thermal devices for domestic applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 187-200.
    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. Diane Palmer & Elena Koumpli & Ian Cole & Ralph Gottschalg & Thomas Betts, 2018. "A GIS-Based Method for Identification of Wide Area Rooftop Suitability for Minimum Size PV Systems Using LiDAR Data and Photogrammetry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Mahmud, M.A. Parvez & Huda, Nazmul & Farjana, Shahjadi Hisan & Lang, Candace, 2020. "Life-cycle impact assessment of renewable electricity generation systems in the United States," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1028-1045.
    3. Iliana Papamichael & Irene Voukkali & Mejdi Jeguirim & Nikolaos Argirusis & Salah Jellali & Georgia Sourkouni & Christos Argirusis & Antonis A. Zorpas, 2022. "End-of-Life Management and Recycling on PV Solar Energy Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-5, September.
    4. Mohamed R. Gomaa & Hegazy Rezk & Ramadan J. Mustafa & Mujahed Al-Dhaifallah, 2019. "Evaluating the Environmental Impacts and Energy Performance of a Wind Farm System Utilizing the Life-Cycle Assessment Method: A Practical Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-25, August.
    5. Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis & Georgios Zidianakis, 2019. "Optimized Dimensioning and Operation Automation for a Solar-Combi System for Indoor Space Heating. A Case Study for a School Building in Crete," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-21, January.
    6. Maria Milousi & Manolis Souliotis & George Arampatzis & Spiros Papaefthimiou, 2019. "Evaluating the Environmental Performance of Solar Energy Systems Through a Combined Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-23, May.
    7. Han Peng & Songyin Li & Linjian Shangguan & Yisa Fan & Hai Zhang, 2023. "Analysis of Wind Turbine Equipment Failure and Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-35, May.
    8. Alberto Cerezo-Narváez & María-José Bastante-Ceca & José-María Piñero-Vilela, 2021. "Economic and Environmental Assessment on Implementing Solar Renewable Energy Systems in Spanish Residential Homes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-39, July.
    9. Chukwuma Ogbonnaya & Chamil Abeykoon & Adel Nasser & Ali Turan, 2020. "Radiation-Thermodynamic Modelling and Simulating the Core of a Thermophotovoltaic System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-15, November.
    10. Mahmoud G. Hemeida & Ashraf M. Hemeida & Tomonobu Senjyu & Dina Osheba, 2022. "Renewable Energy Resources Technologies and Life Cycle Assessment: Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-36, December.
    11. Hassan, Masood Ul & Saha, Sajeeb & Haque, Md Enamul, 2021. "PVAnalytX: A MATLAB toolkit for techno-economic analysis and performance evaluation of rooftop PV systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    12. Pfadt-Trilling, Alyssa R. & Widyolar, Bennett K. & Jiang, Lun & Brinkley, Jordyn & Bhusal, Yogesh & Winston, Roland & Fortier, Marie-Odile P., 2023. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of low-temperature process heat generation by external compound parabolic concentrator (XCPC) solar thermal array," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 992-998.
    13. Josué F. Rosales-Pérez & Andrés Villarruel-Jaramillo & José A. Romero-Ramos & Manuel Pérez-García & José M. Cardemil & Rodrigo Escobar, 2023. "Hybrid System of Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Technologies for Industrial Process Heat," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-45, February.
    14. Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis, 2020. "Computational Simulation and Dimensioning of Solar-Combi Systems for Large-Size Sports Facilities: A Case Study for the Pancretan Stadium, Crete, Greece," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-30, May.
    15. Hosseini, Seyed Mohsen & Kanagaraj, N. & Sadeghi, Shahrbanoo & Yousefi, Hossein, 2022. "Midpoint and endpoint impacts of electricity generation by renewable and nonrenewable technologies: A case study of Alberta, Canada," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 22-39.
    16. Hahn Menacho, A.J. & Rodrigues, J.F.D. & Behrens, P., 2022. "A triple bottom line assessment of concentrated solar power generation in China and Europe 2020–2050," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    17. Milad Zeraatpisheh & Reza Arababadi & Mohsen Saffari Pour, 2018. "Economic Analysis for Residential Solar PV Systems Based on Different Demand Charge Tariffs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, November.
    18. Sree Harsha Bandaru & Victor Becerra & Sourav Khanna & Harold Espargilliere & Law Torres Sevilla & Jovana Radulovic & David Hutchinson & Rinat Khusainov, 2021. "A General Framework for Multi-Criteria Based Feasibility Studies for Solar Energy Projects: Application to a Real-World Solar Farm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-34, April.
    19. Vanesa Rodríguez-Merchan & Claudia Ulloa-Tesser & Yannay Casas-Ledón, 2019. "Evaluation of the Water–Energy–Land Nexus (WELN) Using Exergy-Based Indicators: The Chilean Electricity System Case," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, December.
    20. Chih-Chiang Wei, 2019. "Evaluation of Photovoltaic Power Generation by Using Deep Learning in Solar Panels Installed in Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-18, September.
    21. Violeta Motuzienė & Kęstutis Čiuprinskas & Artur Rogoža & Vilūnė Lapinskienė, 2022. "A Review of the Life Cycle Analysis Results for Different Energy Conversion Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    22. Mahmud, M.A. Parvez & Farjana, Shahjadi Hisan, 2022. "Comparative life cycle environmental impact assessment of renewable electricity generation systems: A practical approach towards Europe, North America and Oceania," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 1106-1120.
    23. Mahmud, M. A. Parvez & Huda, Nazmul & Farjana, Shahjadi Hisan & Lang, Candace, 2019. "A strategic impact assessment of hydropower plants in alpine and non-alpine areas of Europe," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 198-214.
    24. Waqas Ahmed & Jamil Ahmed Sheikh & M. A. Parvez Mahmud, 2021. "Impact of PV System Tracking on Energy Production and Climate Change," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-7, August.

    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. Mahmud, M.A. Parvez & Farjana, Shahjadi Hisan, 2022. "Comparative life cycle environmental impact assessment of renewable electricity generation systems: A practical approach towards Europe, North America and Oceania," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 1106-1120.
    2. Mahmud, M.A. Parvez & Huda, Nazmul & Farjana, Shahjadi Hisan & Lang, Candace, 2020. "Life-cycle impact assessment of renewable electricity generation systems in the United States," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1028-1045.
    3. Gabriel Constantino & Marcos Freitas & Neilton Fidelis & Marcio Giannini Pereira, 2018. "Adoption of Photovoltaic Systems Along a Sure Path: A Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) Study Applied to the Analysis of GHG Emission Impacts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-28, October.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Riccardo Basosi & Roberto Bonciani & Dario Frosali & Giampaolo Manfrida & Maria Laura Parisi & Franco Sansone, 2020. "Life Cycle Analysis of a Geothermal Power Plant: Comparison of the Environmental Performance with Other Renewable Energy Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-29, April.
    7. Giuseppe Todde & Lelia Murgia & Isaac Carrelo & Rita Hogan & Antonio Pazzona & Luigi Ledda & Luis Narvarte, 2018. "Embodied Energy and Environmental Impact of Large-Power Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, August.
    8. Markéta Šerešová & Jiří Štefanica & Monika Vitvarová & Kristina Zakuciová & Petr Wolf & Vladimír Kočí, 2020. "Life Cycle Performance of Various Energy Sources Used in the Czech Republic," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Catalina Ferat Toscano & Cecilia Martin-del-Campo & Gabriela Moeller-Chavez & Gabriel Leon de los Santos & Juan-Luis François & Daniel Revollo Fernandez, 2019. "Life Cycle Assessment of a Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine with a Focus on the Chemicals Used in Water Conditioning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-24, May.
    10. Zhang, Xiaoyue & Huang, Guohe & Liu, Lirong & Li, Kailong, 2022. "Development of a stochastic multistage lifecycle programming model for electric power system planning – A case study for the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    11. Murillo Vetroni Barros & Cassiano Moro Piekarski & Antonio Carlos De Francisco, 2018. "Carbon Footprint of Electricity Generation in Brazil: An Analysis of the 2016–2026 Period," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-14, June.
    12. 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.
    13. Ramirez, A.D. & Boero, A. & Rivela, B. & Melendres, A.M. & Espinoza, S. & Salas, D.A., 2020. "Life cycle methods to analyze the environmental sustainability of electricity generation in Ecuador: Is decarbonization the right path?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    14. Muath Bani Salim & Dervis Emre Demirocak & Nael Barakat, 2018. "A Fuzzy Based Model for Standardized Sustainability Assessment of Photovoltaic Cells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, December.
    15. Gabriel Constantino de Lima & Andre Luiz Lopes Toledo & Leonidas Bourikas, 2021. "The Role of National Energy Policies and Life Cycle Emissions of PV Systems in Reducing Global Net Emissions of Greenhouse Gases," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.
    16. Martinopoulos, Georgios, 2020. "Are rooftop photovoltaic systems a sustainable solution for Europe? A life cycle impact assessment and cost analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    17. António A. Martins & Marta Simaria & Joaquim Barbosa & Ricardo Barbosa & Daniela T. Silva & Cristina S. Rocha & Teresa M. Mata & Nídia S. Caetano, 2018. "Life cycle assessment tool of electricity generation in Portugal," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 129-143, December.
    18. Rafaella de Souza Henriques & Rodney Rezende Saldanha & Lineker Max Goulart Coelho, 2019. "An Air Pollutant Emission Analysis of Brazilian Electricity Production Projections and Other Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-19, July.
    19. Vega-Coloma, Mabel & Zaror, Claudio A., 2018. "Environmental impact profile of electricity generation in Chile: A baseline study over two decades," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 154-167.
    20. Oliver O. Apeh & Edson L. Meyer & Ochuko K. Overen, 2022. "Contributions of Solar Photovoltaic Systems to Environmental and Socioeconomic Aspects of National Development—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-28, August.

    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:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:9:p:2346-:d:168002. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.