Integrating solar cell technologies in microalgae facilities: Environmental sustainability metrics and indicators

Abstract

All solar cell technologies have an impact on the environment. So, it is important to consider that the choice of solar cell technology can have a significant influence on the environmental sustainability metrics of microalgae-based processes and products. That's why this article is concerned with scrutinizing the environmental sustainability of integrating solar cell technologies in microalgae facilities. One of the focal aspects of this research is to provide insights to stakeholders in incorporating photovoltaics into their facilities. Four solar cell technologies, namely, single-crystalline silicon, multi-crystalline silicon, copper-indium-diselenide, and amorphous silicon were investigated. The results of the study confirm that the choice of solar cell technology can further reduce the metrics of environmental sustainability indicators of microalgae-based processes and products. The energy use from the lowest emitting technology versus the highest emitting technology can lead to a reduction in sustainability metrics of 1.13 to 9.04 times. It was also revealed, from weighting the results, that integrating microalgae production with amorphous silicon solar cell technology has a lower overall environmental impact, followed sequentially by copper-indium-diselenide, multi-crystalline silicon, and monocrystalline silicon. These results provide guidance for the environmentally conscious integration of photovoltaics in microalgae facilities.