Comparative life cycle assessment and cost analysis photovoltaic systems

There is a growing interest for photovoltaics in terms of electricity generation. Though they are considered as a carbon neutral way of energy generation, they do cause carbon emissions as they require material and energy intensive flows at most stages (e.g. production, waste disposal etc.) of their life cycle. Therefore, in order to evaluate environmental effects of photovoltaic systems properly in a holistic way, it is necessary to assess photovoltaic electricity generation considering a life cycle approach. To meet this particular need, two globally most demanded photovoltaic technologies (monocrystalline and multicrystalline photovoltaics) have been subjected to a life cycle assessment by an electricity generation scenario in Ankara. In doing so, different stakeholders (decision makers and investors) are targeted to be informed related to the comparative results of which module technology is more environmentally feasible for electricity generation in Ankara. Monocrystalline photovoltaic systems inherit energy intensive processes particularly during the purification of silicon and production of wafers. That's why monocrystalline photovoltaic systems are less environmental compared to multicrystalline in terms of primary energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to these findings, although multicrystalline photovoltaic systems have less efficiency, they have shorter energy payback time (EPBT) and higher amount of energy returned of energy invested (ERoEI).