Energy and Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Photovoltaics Transition toward Perovskite–Perovskite Tandems from the Attributional and Consequential Perspectives

Abstract

In pursuit of photovoltaic (PV) technologies of high-efficiency and low production cost, all-perovskite tandem solar modules have been gauged with a great potential for widespread PV deployment. In this study, we conduct a holistic life cycle assessment (LCA) using both attributional and consequential approaches. The attributional LCA results show substantial decreases in both cumulative energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions for the shift from benchmark silicon PVs to the emerging yet promising perovskite–perovskite tandems. From a consequential perspective, much silicon metal is avoided due to the transition, of which the indirect consequences dominate the consequential environmental impacts. Attributional LCA helps identify the hotspot components throughout life cycle stages, the market changes of which are likely to dominate the consequential life cycle environmental impacts as well. However, consequential LCA provides complementary insights that cannot be gained in attributional LCA, despite the obstacle in data acquisition and relatively low data quality. The benchmark silicon PV demonstrates higher global warming potential and cumulative energy demand than the tandem stack by a factor of around three. Silicon is identified as a hotspot in the fabrication of benchmark silicon PVs in attributional LCA, and we find that the activities associated with its market, including the domestic production and importation of aluminum alloy, contribute up to 90% share of the consequential environmental scores. In addition, the price elasticity of supply and demand in the silicon metal market is identified as the most influential factor for both GWP and ReCiPe end-point environmental scores, resulting in up to 37.6 and 26.6% deviations from the corresponding values.

LCA as a Tool to Detect Environmental “Hot Spots” in Early-Stage Mechanochemical Synthesis of Organic Dyes

“…The categories within ReCiPe allow comparing key global environmental, resource consumption, and human health ecosystem impacts of the two alternative production routes. The ReCiPe 2016 hierarchist method has been widely used to evaluate and benchmark multiple chemicals and production routes, prospective water infrastructure, treatment recovery processes, , emerging biochemicals and biopolymers, and renewable energy materials, processes, and planning. , …”

“…The ReCiPe 2016 hierarchist method has been widely used to evaluate and benchmark multiple chemicals and production routes, 51 prospective water infrastructure, 52 treatment recovery processes, 53,54 emerging biochemicals 55 and biopolymers, 56 and renewable energy materials, processes, and planning. 57,58 Interpretation. Solvent usage in chemical process engineering poses significant environmental burdens; therefore, we analyze the sensitivity of recovering all solvents considered in both Pigment 31 production alternatives.…”

Are Perovskite Solar Cells an Environmentally Sustainable Emerging Energy Technology? Upscaling from Lab to Fab in Life Cycle Assessment

“…8 Additionally, their novel thin-film material structure with simple bulk chemicals is expected to reduce considerably upstream environmental impacts, particularly global warming and resource use. 7 If this expectation is true, PSC will be a more environmentally sustainable energy technology than current commercial PV benchmarks.…”

Life Cycle Assessment and Multiobjective Optimization for Steam Cracking Process in Ethylene Plant

“… 32 Tian et al conducted a holistic LCA using both attributional and consequential approaches to pursue photovoltaic technologies of high efficiency and low production cost. 33 A consequential life cycle optimization framework integrated by superstructure optimization, techno-economic analysis methodology, and the consequential LCA approach was developed by Zhao et al to minimize the environmental impacts and maximize the economic performance. 34 Nicoletti et al studied a single-leader–multiple-follower structure of the multistakeholder crude oil supply chain problem.…”

“…To satisfy the growing maintenance demands of the pavement, Huang et al proposed an integrated methodology unifying LCA, life cycle cost assessment (LCCA), and multiobjective optimization . Tian et al conducted a holistic LCA using both attributional and consequential approaches to pursue photovoltaic technologies of high efficiency and low production cost . A consequential life cycle optimization framework integrated by superstructure optimization, techno-economic analysis methodology, and the consequential LCA approach was developed by Zhao et al to minimize the environmental impacts and maximize the economic performance .…”