Photovoltaic solar energy: the global environmental balance?

[Christophe]

The information about the global impact of photovoltaics is quite difficult to find (well, I may have been looking for something wrong), so I'm posting here to see if some of you know more ...

Two points concerning the global environmental assessment of the PV challenge me: the manufacture and recycling of panels (and battery if any) at the end of life.

I am thinking in particular of the gray energy for these 2 operations.



ps: it is almost certain that from a pure energy point of view, small solar panels for recharging mobile devices are never "profitable": it will have been necessary to spend more energy to make them than what is needed. will create during their lifetime.

But they are certainly from a "waste" point of view by improving the life of the batteries or limiting the use of batteries.

ps: I recall the article on the PV on the site,
https://www.econologie.com/energie-solai ... -3135.html

Edit answer: published in July 2009

Hespul report: Solar photovoltaic systems, manufacturing and environmental and ecological impact (provided by RPSantina here: https://www.econologie.com/forums/les-vrais- ... 11103.html )

[delnoram]

ps: it is almost certain that from a pure energy point of view, small solar panels for recharging mobile devices are never "profitable": it will have been necessary to spend more energy to make them than what is needed. will create during their lifetime.

not so sure, since the "mini" solar panels of these devices are often from the falls of the manufacture of large, so at least at this level there the gray energy spent seems to me to be attributable to the larger panels generators of these falls.

...well, I believe

[Christophe]

I did not know this fact ... it must reduce their impact but the cell itself is not everything ... there is the building, packaging, transport to the consumer (98% of the mobile charger are made in PRC hey it's better than maïdinechaïna) ...

In this regard, do you know if transport is accounted for in gray energy?

[Christophe]

By following the ACV links on this page, I think we can (maybe) get something:

http://www.ines-solaire.com/outils.htm

If a PV specialist wants to take a closer look?

[Capt_Maloche]

Hello

I do not know how much energy it takes to make 1m ² of photovoltaic panel, for cons I know that the best current trade yields are 13 and 18% of radiation converted depending on the type of panel (mono or poly crystalin)

Which in all cases, is insufficient to consider a return on energy investment.

I'll get serious about it when we get at least 40% yield

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panneau_so ... cristallin

In the current state of things, a monocrystalline silicon silicon photovoltaic panel must work for two years to "reimburse" the energy that was needed to manufacture it (see Wikipedia on photovoltaic cells

[loop]

Hello

For the ecological interest of PV I offer you a very simple calculation formula
This rule can of course be applied to any manufactured product
Of course, I'm counting on you to correct the parameters, it's to have an order of magnitude

For each euro of a product purchased, it is assumed that 1 L was spent on oil
This approach is basic but terribly realistic in my opinion
Indeed, the most expensive in a product, it is the energy which was necessary for its manufacture, transport etc ...
For the workforce it's the same, the employee also spends energy but simplify for the moment

Let's go back to PV

I buy 1 m2 from PV to 1000 euros
This panel will produce 100 w for 10h, 365 days per year
365 KWh per year
Based on my original assumption, 1000 L oil will have been required for its production either 10 000 KWH

The ecological interest of this m2 of PV will be realized when the energy necessary for its manufacture (and others) will have been produced by this one after 10000 / 365 = 27 ans !!!

Find the error

To your calculators

Good reflection

A+

[Leo Maximus]

A link, already old, but interesting on the photovoltaic:
http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia2 ... ure05.html

[Christophe]

Find the error

The error is that 1 € = 1L of oil I think it's unrealistic ... it must be much less ... I would say 0.1 to 0.3L ... in this case we find 10 years to 3 years back ... which would fit with the "others" reasoning ...

To check, see "energy intensity" in Google ...

You will find this: http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/de ... ensite.htm
http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/de ... emande.htm

Thin, I note that all the values ​​are "indexed" ... in short, there are no figures in L of oil / $ GDP ...

[Christophe]

Here if 1 € = 1L well it would be impossible to sell fuel for more than 1 € / L otherwise the economic world would be completely blocked ... when you fill your tank it is generally to go to work so "to create wealth" therefore GDP ...

ps: nice Japanese Leo articles

[Leo Maximus]

Here if 1 € = 1L well it would be impossible to sell fuel for more than 1 € / L otherwise the economic world would be completely blocked ... when you fill your tank it is generally to go to work so "to create wealth" therefore GDP ...

ps: nice Japanese Leo articles

Then another link (in English) on this installation:

http://www.nef.or.jp/english/award2002/01_03.html

What is good is that it is the administration that sets the example, town halls, schools, various public buildings. In 2002, the energy produced already represented 60% of a nuclear reactor. Source:

http://www.ecoearth.info/

Personally, I am trying to install an air conditioning using photovoltaics but there is nothing that is not suitable, no question of going through batteries and a converter 230 V.