Life cycle impact analysis of cadmium in CdTe PV production

Fthenakis, Vasilis

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2003.12.001

Cited by 228 publications

(131 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Similarly to greenhousegas emissions, releases of 11 On the other hand, a typical coal-burning plant in the United States, equipped with electrostatic precipitators or baghouses (fabric fi lters) operating at 98.6% cadmium removal effi ciency, emits 2 g of cadmium per gigawatt-hour. 12 Replacing grid electricity with PV systems would result in 89-98% reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases, criteria pollutants, heavy metals, and radioactive species.…”

Section: Emissions and Disposalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability metrics for extending thin-film photovoltaics to terawatt levels

Fthenakis

2012

MRS Bull.

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Section: Emissions and Disposalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability metrics for extending thin-film photovoltaics to terawatt levels

Fthenakis

2012

MRS Bull.

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“…Fthenakis [5] describes the cadmium (Cd) material flows and emissions for the entire stages of the cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV life cycle. This starts with the extraction of Cd and Te.…”

Section: The Life Cycle Of Cadmium In Cdte Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since all the process stages are conducted at ambient temperature and pressure, no gaseous emissions of Cd are generated during this process [8,9]. Table 1 gives the air emissions of Cd during the various stages of the life of CdTe PV, compiled from reference [5] and adjusted for European solar irradiation conditions.…”

Section: The Life Cycle Of Cadmium In Cdte Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

CdTe photovoltaics: Life cycle environmental profile and comparisons

Fthenakis

Kim

2007

Thin Solid Films

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We discuss the emissions of cadmium throughout all the life stages of CdTe PV modules, from extracting, refining, and purifying the raw materials to producing, using, and disposing or recycling of the modules. Then, we compare these emissions with those in the life cycle of three different types of crystalline Si PV modules. The energy requirement and energy pay back times (EPBT) of CdTe PV modules are considerably shorter than that of crystalline Si modules, although the latter exhibit higher efficiencies. This difference is primarily due to the energy used to process silicon, a fraction of which is derived from fossil fuels, inevitably producing Cd and many other heavy-metal emissions. The lower energy requirement of CdTe PV results in lower emissions of all pollutants, including cadmium. Published by Elsevier B.V.

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“…On the other hand, concerns have been raised related to the availability of tellurium (Te) and the environmental impact of cadmium (Cd). These concerns have been addressed by Fthenakis et al (Fthenakis, 2004(Fthenakis, , 2009Fthenakis et al, 2005Fthenakis et al, , 2008. In order to minimize the environmental impact of this technology, a recycling process for used modules has been introduced (Meyers, 2006) and the rest of the PV industry is currently moving in this direction (PVCYCLE program).…”

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confidence: 99%