Zusammenfassung
This paper describes the update and extension of the life cycle assessment
(LCA) of photovoltaic (PV) power plants in the ecoinvent database
v2.0. Sixteen different, grid-connected photovoltaic systems were
studied for the situation in Switzerland in the year 2005. They are
manufactured as panels or laminates, from silicon or thin-films,
installed on facades, slanted or flat roofs, and have 3kWp capacity.
Furthermore average photovoltaic production mix data have been investigated
for more than 20 countries. The process data include the full process
chain for panel and laminate production, mounting structure, 30 years
operation and dismantling. The ecoinvent data v1.0 have been updated
with information from new research projects and manufacturer data.
The LCI for photovoltaic electricity shows that each production stage
is important for certain elementary flows. A comparison of the cumulative
energy demand with older Swiss studies highlights the developments
for crystalline photovoltaics in the last 15 years. An evaluation
of region specific energy pay-back times as well as mitigation potentials
for nuclear waste and CO2 highlights the region specific differences
for an assessment. The presented life cycle inventories for photovoltaic
power plants are representative for newly constructed plants in Switzerland
in the year 2005. The very detailed ecoinvent data v2.0 forms a good
basis for assessments of the use of photovoltaics in this reference
year.
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