Carbon pay back period for solar and wind energy project installed in India: A critical review

All renewable energy systems make some contribution to climate change. This is due to fuel combusted for their construction and as back up energy during their operation. Accurate calculation of greenhouse gas emission per kilowatt hour of electricity is difficult but is an important part of policy making and planning. This study, an attempt has been made to analyze and review the development and potential of wind and solar energy in India. LCA has been carried out for the on shore wind turbine and poly crystalline PV module. Based on the past studies, life cycle inventory data has been collected for the investigation. Using that data, the detailed investigation has been made for the existing grid connected 1.65 MW wind turbine project in and around Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu and 25 kW Roof top solar PV Power plant at Sewa Bhawan, New Delhi. Carbon intensity, energy pay back period and carbon pay back period for the above system have been calculated and compared with each other. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.