Abstract
High Concentrator Photovoltaic Thermal (HCPV/T) systems produce both electrical and thermal energy and they are efficient in areas with high Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI). This paper estimates the lifecycle environmental impact of the HCPV/T 2000x system for both electrical and thermal functionalities. Process-based attributional method following the guidelines and framework of ISO 14044/40 was used to conduct the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The midpoint and endpoint impact categories were studied. It was found that the main hotspots are the production of the thermal energy system contributing with 50% and 55%, respectively, followed by the production of the tracking system with 29% and 32% and the operation and maintenance with 13% and 7%. The main contributor to the lifecycle environmental impact category indicators was found to be the raw materials acquisition/production and manufacturing of the thermal energy and tracking systems. The results indicate that the lifecycle environmental impact of the HCPV/T 2000x system is lower compared to fuel-based Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and non-Renewable Energy Sources (non-RES) systems.
Highlights
One of the main global challenges is the extensive consumption of generated energy from non-Renewable Energy Sources that are considered as main contributors to the harmful environmental impact
The use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to estimate lifecycle environmental impact category indicators of the High Concentrator Photovoltaic Thermal (HCPV/T) 2000x system shows that the “production: thermal energy system”, “production: tracking system”, “operation and maintenance” subsystem boundaries are the main hotspots responsible for most environmental impacts at both midpoint and endpoint categories
The contribution to the environmental impacts are mostly due to the raw materials acquisition/production and manufacturing of the thermal energy and tracking systems
Summary
One of the main global challenges is the extensive consumption of generated energy from non-Renewable Energy Sources (non-RES) that are considered as main contributors to the harmful environmental impact. The most common concentrator solar energy technologies include Low and High Concentrator Photovoltaic (LCPV and HCPV), Low and High Concentrator Photovoltaic Thermal (LCPV/T and HCPV/T) and Concentrator Solar Power (CSP). LCPV uses crystalline silicon PV cells to convert Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) (and a small fraction of diffuse horizontal irradiance) into electrical energy at high efficiency, while HCPV uses Multi-Junction Solar Cell (MJSC) to convert only DNI into electrical energy at higher efficiency than LCPV [1]. LCPV/T and HCPV/T integrates solar thermal technology with LCPV and HCPV respectively, to produce electrical and thermal energy. Additional advantages of LCPV, LCPV/T, HCPV and HCPV/T systems include low Energy Payback Time (EPBT), land use reduction, and the potential increase in power density. CSP converts DNI into electrical and thermal energy by using concentrators and conventional power block such as steam turbines, gas turbines and Stirling engines [5]
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