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Reduction of Environmental Impacts in Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Technology: An Analysis of Driving Forces and Opportunities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Erik Alsema  and
Mariska de Wild-Scholten
Erik Alsema
Affiliation:
e.a.alsema@uu.nl, Utrecht University, Copernicus Institute, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht, N/A, Netherlands, +31-30-2537618
Mariska de Wild-Scholten
Affiliation:
m.dewild@ecn.nl, Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Unit Solar Energy, Westerduinweg 3, Petten, N/A, Netherlands
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Abstract

We give an overview of historical developments with respect to the price and the Energy Pay-Back Time of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules. We investigate the drivers behind both developments and observe that there is a large overlap between them. Reduction of silicon consumption, improved cell efficiency and the production technology for solar grade silicon have been identified as major drivers for both cost and impact reductions in the past. Also we look into future prospects for reduction of environmental impacts. It is estimated that developments underway to reduce costs will also result in a reduction of the Energy Pay-Back Time of a PV installation (in South-Europe) from 1.5-2.0 year presently to well below 1 year.

Keywords

photovoltaicenvironmentally benignSi
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1041: Symposium R – Life-Cycle Analysis for New Energy Conversion and Storage Systems , 2007 , 1041-R01-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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