• The carbon footprint of PV systems – assuming a location in southern Europe – ranges from 16 to 32 gCO2 eq. per kWh compared to between 300 and 1000 g
    “Carbon Footprint.”European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). March 2011. Web. 18 Apr 2015. http://www.epia.org/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=/uploads/tx_epiafactsheets/110513_Fact_Sheet_on_the_Carbon_Footprint.pdf&t=1429540042&hash=ce3977152cd5d42981ff266219261ec7972e7d50

    “Carbon Footprint.”European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). March 2011. Web. 18 Apr 2015. Retrieved from EPIA

    CO2 eq. per kWh when produced from fossil fuels

  • Even when considering the use of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) on coal or gas power plants,
  • PV will have a carbon footprint 10 to 20 times less than those of its conventional counterparts
  • The carbon footprint of PV has decreased by approximately 50% in the last 10 years thanks to performance improvements, raw material savings and manufacturing process improvements
  • The technical lifetime of PV modules is 30+ years during which they produce electricity without any direct CO2 or GHG emission. PV has an x16 to x32 CO2eq. efficiency factor!
  • Carbon footprint for generating solar electricity is 30 times less than using coal

The Future

  • The carbon footprint of PV electricity is continually decreasing through its main drivers:
    • Reduction in material used (e.g. thinner silicon wafers, thin-film modules)
    • Higher system efficiencies for converting solar energy into electricity
    • Improved manufacturing processes resulting in increased throughput and yield and a reduction in energy usage
    • Recycling of materials
    • Increased lifetime of PV systems
    • Improved Balance Of System (BOS) by lighter structure, improved materials and building integration
    • Improvement of logistics through industrial integration over the value chain, distribution network optimizing the transportation

Author: Hannah Goldstein

Editor: Abby Studen

Sources:

“Carbon Footprint.”European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). March 2011. Web. 18 Apr 2015. http://www.epia.org/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=/uploads/tx_epiafactsheets/110513_Fact_Sheet_on_the_Carbon_Footprint. pdf&t=1429540042&hash=ce3977152cd5d42981ff266219261ec7972e7d50

IPCC, 2011: Summary for Policymakers.” IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. n.d. Web. 15 Apr 2015.