Global warming potential of photovoltaics with state-of-the art silicon solar cells: Influence of electricity mix, installation location and lifetime

Efforts are driven to fast-track energy transition for more energy security, resilience, and affordable energy for all. A major objective in implementing the transition to renewable energies is the overall reduction of the global warming potential (GWP). Therefore, it is important to investigate key parameters that can reduce the GWP of renewable energy technologies even further. In this study, the GWP of a state-of-the-art, market dominating passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) in a glass-backsheet photovoltaic (PV) module based on Czochralski (Cz) grown silicon wafers is explored to determine the influence of up-to-date electricity mix of the production location, the installation location as well as the lifetime. This comprehensive analysis showed a GWP reduction potential of approximately 62% only through strategic planning of the upstream production location of each life cycle phase. Additionally, approximately 58% of the GWP reduction potential is observed by changing the downstream installation location and lifetime of the PV modules. Furthermore, this study promotes and provides guidelines for modelling the correct electricity mix in the correct voltage composition, which is important to precisely portray time representativeness of the grid electricity in LCA of any production process but rarely used in practice. Lastly, the study provides opportunities for solar cell manufacturers to create a more sustainable product by strategically lowering their product’s GWP through changes in the electricity mix of the supply chain location.