Life cycle assessment of the 3.2 kW cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic system in composite climate of India

Life cycle assessment for new emerging photovoltaic (PV) technology is an important tool to establish a PV system in field condition. In this paper, life cycle assessment of the 3.2 kW cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV system has been carried out on the basis of actual field performance data in a composite climate of India. Further, analysis has been performed on the basis of the energy metrics, life cycle assessment, per unit cost of electricity and carbon credit earned. The analysis of the PV system has been performed under the same environmental conditions likely solar irradiation, ambient temperature and wind speed, etc. Energy payback time (EPBT), energy production factor (EPF) and life cycle conversion efficiency (LCCE) of the PV system has been found to be 3.60 years, 0.27 and 0.0018 respectively. The unit cost of electricity of the PV system has been calculated as 9.85 INR/kW h for 5% interest rate and 30 years life span.