TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparing Environmental Impacts of Single-Junction Silicon and Silicon/Perovskite Tandem Photovoltaics
T2 - A Prospective Life Cycle Assessment
AU - van der Hulst, Mitchell K.
AU - Magoss, Dorottya
AU - Massop, Yiri
AU - Veenstra, Sjoerd
AU - van Loon, Niels
AU - Dogan, Ilker
AU - Coletti, Gianluca
AU - Theelen, Mirjam
AU - Hoeks, Selwyn
AU - Huijbregts, Mark A.J.
AU - van Zelm, Rosalie
AU - Hauck, Mara
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.
PY - 2024/6/10
Y1 - 2024/6/10
N2 - Tandem photovoltaics applying perovskite on silicon are considered to be a possible route to sustaining continuous efficiency improvements and price reductions. A meaningful market share for such tandems is, however, at least a decade away. Herein, a comprehensive prospective life cycle assessment was conducted, comparing the full life cycle of monofacial and bifacial silicon/perovskite tandem panels with single-junction silicon panels produced up to 2050. The end-of-life included the recovery of silicon and silver. Climate change impacts per kilowatt hour were projected to decrease by two-thirds over time. Tandem panels are expected to reach impacts of 8-10 g CO2-eq/kWh in 2050, while single-junction panels may reach 11-13 g CO2-eq/kWh in 2050. Other midpoint impact categories with substantial contributions to damaging human health and ecosystem quality were toxicity, particulate matter formation, and acidification, with tandems having lower impacts in each category. Reductions in impacts over time are mainly the result of grid mix decarbonization and panel efficiency improvements. Balance-of-system and recycling were found to contribute substantially to these impact categories. To ensure that tandem panels provide environmental benefits, annual degradation rates should not exceed 1% for monofacial or 3% for bifacial tandems, and refurbishment of panels with advanced degradation is crucial.
AB - Tandem photovoltaics applying perovskite on silicon are considered to be a possible route to sustaining continuous efficiency improvements and price reductions. A meaningful market share for such tandems is, however, at least a decade away. Herein, a comprehensive prospective life cycle assessment was conducted, comparing the full life cycle of monofacial and bifacial silicon/perovskite tandem panels with single-junction silicon panels produced up to 2050. The end-of-life included the recovery of silicon and silver. Climate change impacts per kilowatt hour were projected to decrease by two-thirds over time. Tandem panels are expected to reach impacts of 8-10 g CO2-eq/kWh in 2050, while single-junction panels may reach 11-13 g CO2-eq/kWh in 2050. Other midpoint impact categories with substantial contributions to damaging human health and ecosystem quality were toxicity, particulate matter formation, and acidification, with tandems having lower impacts in each category. Reductions in impacts over time are mainly the result of grid mix decarbonization and panel efficiency improvements. Balance-of-system and recycling were found to contribute substantially to these impact categories. To ensure that tandem panels provide environmental benefits, annual degradation rates should not exceed 1% for monofacial or 3% for bifacial tandems, and refurbishment of panels with advanced degradation is crucial.
KW - emerging technology
KW - ex-ante
KW - life cycle assessment (LCA)
KW - multijunction PV
KW - passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC)
KW - prospective
KW - PV recycling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85194230741&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c01952
DO - 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c01952
M3 - Article
C2 - 38872956
AN - SCOPUS:85194230741
SN - 2168-0485
VL - 12
SP - 8860
EP - 8870
JO - ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
JF - ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
IS - 23
ER -