Third generation of photovoltaic panels: A life cycle assessment

This study analyzed the impacts from multi-crystalline silicon (m-Si), organic thin-film (OPV), and perovskite thin-film (PSC) panels over each products' lifetime using a cradle-to-grave system model. The rate of panel installation each year was modeled to account for efficiency, functional lifetime, and degradation. Landfill and recycling scenarios were used to compare end-of-life impacts and the overall environmental impacts were determined using life cycle impact assessment at the midpoint and endpoint levels. Impact calculations revealed that the production and use of m-Si panels resulted in the worst impacts for all categories. OPV panels produced drastically lower impacts comparatively, with PSC designs falling at mid-range. Recycling lowered the impacts for all module types and showed the largest decrease in the impacts of m-Si panels. Although moderately sensitive to the energy production mix, the results can be applied to other regions for the comparison between panel types. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that mono-crystalline silicon panels had the most severe impacts across all categories, while organic thin-film panels had lower impacts and perovskite thin-film panels fell in the mid-range. Recycling can reduce the impacts of all panel types, with the largest decrease observed in mono-crystalline silicon panels.