Environmental payback periods of multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaics in the United States – How prioritizing based on environmental impact compares to solar intensity

Abstract

As global climate change is becoming a more pervasive issue, the environmental impact of electricity production is once again in the spotlight. In the context of global climate change it is critical to focus on shifting towards more sustainable electricity production methods, which meet the electricity demand without contributing significantly to the environmental footprint. Using photovoltaic (PV) systems as an alternative to conventional grid electricity is one potential option, which is beneficial as it is less resource intensive during the use phase than conventional electricity sources. However, environmental impacts are still generated during the raw materials and manufacturing life cycle phases of the PV. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental payback period (EPBP) were used to quantify the time it takes to recoup the environmental impacts due to production of solar PV compared to the environmental impacts of the current electricity grid. An EPBP analysis of all 50 states in the United States was performed to evaluate changes due to differences in solar potential, electricity mix, and impact category. The goal of this paper is to compare how the deployment of solar panels would change if environmental payback prioritization was considered compared to simply considering solar intensity.