11 Sustainability assessment methods
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Sina Herceg
Abstract
Despite photovoltaic (PV) deployment being motivated by an energy transition toward a cleaner grid, the technology is not exempt of producing negative impacts to the environment during production and disposal. The ecological sustainability of a specific system or a product can be measured by looking at its environmental profile. This profile can also be understood as the ecological footprint and serves to describe the interactions and associated impacts on the environment. When evaluating the whole lifecycle of PV modules, hot spots of energy use and materials’ demand can be identified. These emissions have to be properly assessed in order to lower the environmental downsides of PV while turning it into an exemplary technology.
Abstract
Despite photovoltaic (PV) deployment being motivated by an energy transition toward a cleaner grid, the technology is not exempt of producing negative impacts to the environment during production and disposal. The ecological sustainability of a specific system or a product can be measured by looking at its environmental profile. This profile can also be understood as the ecological footprint and serves to describe the interactions and associated impacts on the environment. When evaluating the whole lifecycle of PV modules, hot spots of energy use and materials’ demand can be identified. These emissions have to be properly assessed in order to lower the environmental downsides of PV while turning it into an exemplary technology.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Symbols and units IX
- About the editor XIII
- List of contributing authors XV
- 1 Introduction 1
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Part I: Crystalline silicon module reliability
- 2 Market-related topics of reliability 9
- 3 Characterization of modules and degradation effects 11
- 4 Loads for PV modules 49
- 5 Accelerated aging tests 75
- 6 Reliability testing of materials 89
- 7 Reliability testing of modules 103
- 8 PV module and component standardization 111
- 9 Degradation modeling and service life prediction 121
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Part II: Crystalline silicon module sustainability
- 10 Market-related topics of sustainability 145
- 11 Sustainability assessment methods 149
- 12 Life cycle impacts and embodied energy 155
- 13 End-of-life treatment 159
- 14 Approaches to improve sustainability 163
- 15 Sustainability certification and legislation 165
- References 171
- Index 177
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Symbols and units IX
- About the editor XIII
- List of contributing authors XV
- 1 Introduction 1
-
Part I: Crystalline silicon module reliability
- 2 Market-related topics of reliability 9
- 3 Characterization of modules and degradation effects 11
- 4 Loads for PV modules 49
- 5 Accelerated aging tests 75
- 6 Reliability testing of materials 89
- 7 Reliability testing of modules 103
- 8 PV module and component standardization 111
- 9 Degradation modeling and service life prediction 121
-
Part II: Crystalline silicon module sustainability
- 10 Market-related topics of sustainability 145
- 11 Sustainability assessment methods 149
- 12 Life cycle impacts and embodied energy 155
- 13 End-of-life treatment 159
- 14 Approaches to improve sustainability 163
- 15 Sustainability certification and legislation 165
- References 171
- Index 177
