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Embodied Energy and Cost Assessments of a Concentrating Photovoltaic Module

Author

Listed:
  • Daria Freier Raine

    (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK)

  • Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki

    (School of Engineering & the Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, UK)

  • Roberto Ramirez-Iniguez

    (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK)

  • Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Santiago 8940000, Chile)

  • Tahseen Jafry

    (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK)

  • Carlos Gamio

    (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK)

Abstract

This paper focuses on the embodied energy and cost assessments of a static concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) module in comparison to the flat photovoltaic (PV) module. The CPV module employs a specific concentrator design from the Genetically Optimised Circular Rotational Square Hyperboloid (GOCRSH) concentrators, labelled as GOCRSH_A. Firstly, it discussed previous research on life cycle analyses for PV and CPV modules. Next, it compared the energy embodied in the materials of the GOCRSH_A module to the energy embodied in the materials of a flat PV module of the same electrical output. Lastly, a comparison in terms of cost is presented between the analysed GOCRSH_A module and the flat PV module. It was found that the GOCRSH_A module showed a reduction in embodied energy of 17% which indicates a reduction in embodied carbon. In terms of cost, the costs for the GOCRSH_A module were calculated to be 1.71 times higher than the flat PV module of the same electrical output. It is concluded that a trade-off is required between the embodied energy and cost impacts in order to bring this CPV technology into the market.

Suggested Citation

  • Daria Freier Raine & Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki & Roberto Ramirez-Iniguez & Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey & Tahseen Jafry & Carlos Gamio, 2021. "Embodied Energy and Cost Assessments of a Concentrating Photovoltaic Module," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:24:p:13916-:d:704019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jurjonas, Matthew & Seekamp, Erin & Rivers, Louie & Cutts, Bethany, 2020. "Uncovering climate (in)justice with an adaptive capacity assessment: A multiple case study in rural coastal North Carolina," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
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