Antoine Beylot
CYCLECO, Ambårieu-en-Bugey, France
Jérome Payet
CYCLECO, Ambårieu-en-Bugey, France
Clément Puech
Transånergie, Ecully, France
Nadine Adra
Transånergie, Ecully, France
Philippe Jacquin
PHK consultants, Ecully, France
Isabelle Blanc
MINES ParisTech Sophia Antipolis, France
Didier Beloin-Saint-Pierre
MINES ParisTech Sophia Antipolis, France
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110572743Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden
Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:7, p. 2743-2750
Published: 2011-11-03
ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3
ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)
This study characterizes the environmental performances of large-scale ground-mounted PV installations by considering a life-cycle approach. The methodology is based on the application of the existing international standards of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Four scenarios are compared; considering fixedmounting structures with (1) primary aluminum supports or (2) wood supports; and mobile structures with (3) single-axis trackers or (4) dual-axis trackers. Life cycle inventories are based on manufacturers’ data combined with additional calculations and assumptions. Fixed-mounting installations with primary aluminum supports show the largest environmental impact potential with respect to human health; climate change and energy consumption. The climate change impact potential ranges between 37.5 and 53.5 gCO2eq/kWh depending on the scenario; assuming 1700 kWh/m².yr of irradiation on an inclined plane (30°); and multi-crystalline silicon modules with 14% of energy production performance. Mobile PV installations with dual-axis trackers show the largest impact potential on ecosystem quality; with more than a factor 2 of difference with other considered installations. Supports mass and composition; power density (in MWp/acre of land) and energy production performances appear as key design parameters with respect to large-scale ground mounted PV installations environmental performances; in addition to modules manufacturing process energy inputs.
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