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Photovoltaic Systems through the Lens of Material-Energy-Water Nexus

Author

Listed:
  • Megan Belongeay

    (Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI 53818, USA)

  • Gabriela Shirkey

    (Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
    Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 1405 S Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA)

  • Marina Monteiro Lunardi

    (Independent Researcher, 5B, 34 Kent Road, Mascot, NSW 2020, Australia)

  • Gonzalo Rodriguez-Garcia

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA)

  • Parikhit Sinha

    (First Solar, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA)

  • Richard Corkish

    (School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Rodney A. Stewart

    (School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia)

  • Annick Anctil

    (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Jiquan Chen

    (Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
    Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 1405 S Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA)

  • Ilke Celik

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA)

Abstract

Solar photovoltaics (PV) has emerged as one of the world’s most promising power-generation technologies, and it is essential to assess its applications from the perspective of a material-energy-water (MEW) nexus. We performed a life cycle assessment of the cradle-to-grave MEW for single-crystalline silicon (s-Si) and CdTe PV technologies by assuming both PV systems are recycled at end of life. We found that the MEW network was dominated by energy flows (>95%), while only minor impacts of materials and water flows were observed. Also, these MEW flows have pyramid-like distributions between the three tiers (i.e., primary, secondary/sub-secondary, and tertiary levels), with greater flows at the primary and lower flows at the tertiary levels. A more detailed analysis of materials’ circularity showed that glass layers are the most impactful component of recycling due to their considerable weight in both technologies. Our analysis also emphasized the positive impacts that increased power-conversion efficiency and the use of recycled feedstock have on the PV industry’s circularity rates. We found that a 25% increase in power-conversion efficiency and the use of fully recycled materials in PV panel feedstocks resulted in 91% and 86% material circularity for CdTe and s-Si PV systems, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Megan Belongeay & Gabriela Shirkey & Marina Monteiro Lunardi & Gonzalo Rodriguez-Garcia & Parikhit Sinha & Richard Corkish & Rodney A. Stewart & Annick Anctil & Jiquan Chen & Ilke Celik, 2023. "Photovoltaic Systems through the Lens of Material-Energy-Water Nexus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:7:p:3174-:d:1113118
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    1. Torrubia, Jorge & Valero, Alicia & Valero, Antonio, 2024. "Renewable exergy return on investment (RExROI) in energy systems. The case of silicon photovoltaic panels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).

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