Espace-PV: Key Sensitive Parameters for Environmental Impacts of Grid-Connected PV Systems With LCA

Abstract : The study of sensitive parameters for the life cycle analysis (LCA) of PV system showed that irradiation intensity will bring the biggest variation on environmental impact when considering regions with large difference in solar irradiation level. For example, in France a system installed in the northern region will produce electricity with more than a 100% of the impact of a southern system. Other important factors are the lifetime of the system and the associated electricity use for the different components needed for the PV system. They can bring up to 35% of variation in the production of CO2 gas and primary non-renewable energy use. This study has been developed within Espace-PV project and results have been analyzed and compared with the EcoInvent database. These results are provided for a 3 kWp multicrystalline grid connected system integrated in a slanted roof with near optimal inclination.