Crystalline silicon solar grid-connected photovoltaic power generation

How does crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar power production impact the environment?

The SoG-Si production process accounted for more than 35% of total energy consumption and GHG emissions. The environmental impacts of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power generation from crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar modules in China have been investigated using life cycle assessment (LCA). The life cycle inventory was first analyzed.

What is the environmental impact of a multi-crystalline silicon PV system?

The environmental impact of the project is about 56–66% of other nations’ PV results. A life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed for the grid-connected electricity generation from a metallurgical route multi-crystalline silicon (multi-Si) photovoltaic (PV) system in China.

What is photovoltaic power generation?

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is commonly regarded as one of the most promising renewable energies due to its tremendous capacity and potential to reduce energy consumption and henceforth decrease pollution , .

Why are only crystalline silicon PV systems used in China?

Because of its dominant role in the global and Chinese PV market, only crystalline silicon (including mono-Si and multi-Si) PV systems were considered. Though more than 90% of Chinese PV modules depend on international markets , , , only those PV systems produced and installed in China were considered.

What is photovoltaic technology?

The photovoltaic (PV) technology is considered to be one of the greenest and most promising energy-generating technologies as it generates electricity directly from the sun and therefore avoids fossil energy consumption and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions during system operation .

How does PV power generation affect the environment?

What mainly causes the above results is that the whole life cycle of PV power generation consumes large amounts of electricity and water. The coal-fired power generation consumes a large amount of PED and causes a lot of environmental emissions. And a lot of water consumption will lead to higher industrial water consumption and generate more COD.