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Design, Greenhouse Emissions, and Environmental Payback of a Photovoltaic Solar Energy System

Author

Listed:
  • Herwin Saito Schultz

    (Graduate Program in Renewable Energy, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, Brazil
    Current affiliation: Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, Brazil.)

  • Monica Carvalho

    (Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, Brazil)

Abstract

This study aims to design a 16.4 MW photovoltaic solar system located in the Brazilian Northeast and quantify the associated greenhouse gas emissions and environmental payback. The energy system was designed to minimize the Levelized Cost of Energy. The greenhouse gas emissions were quantified with the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, expressing the environmental impact in terms of generated energy (kg CO 2 -eq/kWh) and following ISO 14040 and 14044. The environmental payback considered the Brazilian electricity mix and degradation of the panels. The results indicated a system capable of producing 521,443 MWh in 25 years, with an emission factor of 0.044 kg CO 2 -eq/kWh and environmental payback of five years and eight months. The emission factor is at least ten times lower than thermoelectric natural gas power plants. The solar panels were the main contributors to the greenhouse gas emissions, representing 90.59% of overall emissions. It is concluded that photovoltaic energy systems are crucial in the search for emissions mitigation, even in a country that presents a predominantly renewable electricity matrix, with demonstrated environmental benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Herwin Saito Schultz & Monica Carvalho, 2022. "Design, Greenhouse Emissions, and Environmental Payback of a Photovoltaic Solar Energy System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-24, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:16:p:6098-:d:894919
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Monica Carvalho & Heitor do Nascimento Andrade & Beatriz Ferreira de Oliveira & Sidnéia Lira Cavalcante & Kelly C. Gomes, 2025. "Contributing to the Concept of Sustainable Buildings: Evaluation of the Carbon Emissions of a Solar Photovoltaic Coating Developed in Northeast Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Luis Fernando Grisales-Noreña & Oscar Danilo Montoya & Brandon Cortés-Caicedo & Farhad Zishan & Javier Rosero-García, 2023. "Optimal Power Dispatch of PV Generators in AC Distribution Networks by Considering Solar, Environmental, and Power Demand Conditions from Colombia," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Hamad Hussain Shah & Piero Bareschino & Erasmo Mancusi & Francesco Pepe, 2023. "Environmental Life Cycle Analysis and Energy Payback Period Evaluation of Solar PV Systems: The Case of Pakistan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-24, September.
    4. Patryk Leda & Adam Idzikowski & Izabela Piasecka & Patrycja Bałdowska-Witos & Tomasz Cierlicki & Marcin Zawada, 2023. "Management of Environmental Life Cycle Impact Assessment of a Photovoltaic Power Plant on the Atmosphere, Water, and Soil Environment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-26, May.
    5. Ghaithan, Ahmed M., 2024. "Multi-objective model for designing hydrogen refueling station powered using on-grid photovoltaic-wind system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    6. Soheil Younesi & Bahman Ahmadi & Oguzhan Ceylan & Aydogan Ozdemir, 2022. "Optimum Parallel Processing Schemes to Improve the Computation Speed for Renewable Energy Allocation and Sizing Problems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-18, December.

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