Environmental Assessment of Solar PV Systems Using Life Cycle Analysis

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive environmental assessment of solar PV systems using LCA methodology. The results show that although solar PV systems significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions during their operational phase, considerable environmental impacts arise during manufacturing and material extraction. Among the technologies studied, thin-film modules demonstrate the lowest embodied energy but raise concerns regarding the use of rare and toxic materials. The findings highlight the need for improvements in manufacturing processes, recycling strategies, and material selection to minimize the environmental footprint of PV systems. This research contributes to a deployment and offers recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders to enhance the sustainability of solar energy technologies.