Environmental benefits of PV sytems in OECD cities

Author(s): Gaiddon, B.; Jedliczka, M.

Organization: Hespul, 114 boulevard du 11 novembre, F-69100 Villeurbanne, France
Tel.: +33 4 37 47 80 90 - Fax : +33 4 37 47 80 99 - Internet: www.hespul.org

Date of issue: September 2006

Details: 5 pages: graphs, photos, tables; with references

Type: Paper IEA PVPS Task 10

Presented at: 21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 4-8 September 2006, Dresden, Germany

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Open or download the paper as Word file (349 kb)

Open or download the Task 10 poster as JPG file (680 kb)

Abstract: A report on selected environmental indicators of photovoltaic electricity in OECD cities was jointly published in May 2006 by the Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme of the International Energy Agency (IEA-PVPS), the European Photovoltaic Technology Platform and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). Based on a worldwide survey of existing studies concerning the energy input of PV systems, this report provides clear and well-defined figures. The energy pay-back time (EPBT) of a complete PV system is, depending on the solar irradiation of its location, in the range of 1,6 years to 3,3 years for a roof-mounted system, and from 2,7 to 4,7 for a PV-façade. Based on a commonly admitted 30 year-long commercial life cycle, the energy return factor (ERF) is between 8 and 18 for roof-mounted systems, and between 5,4 and 10 for façades. Varying widely from one country to another, using the energy production mix from each country, 1 single kW of PV panels can avoid up to 40 tons of Carbon dioxide (CO2) during its whole commercial life cycle - 23,5 tons for a façade. With a view to both better reflect the varying reality and to facilitate the use of the results at national and local levels by making customised figures available, the performance of PV systems is assessed on a country-by-country basis and even a city-by-city approach in larger countries where the potential for urban-scale integrated PV is highest, covering in total 41 main cities in 26 OECD countries.

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Author(s):	Gaiddon, B.; Jedliczka, M.
Organization:	Hespul, 114 boulevard du 11 novembre, F-69100 Villeurbanne, France Tel.: +33 4 37 47 80 90 - Fax : +33 4 37 47 80 99 - Internet: www.hespul.org
Date of issue:	September 2006
Details:	5 pages: graphs, photos, tables; with references
Type:	Paper IEA PVPS Task 10
Presented at:	21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, 4-8 September 2006, Dresden, Germany
Download:	Open or download the paper as Word file (349 kb) Open or download the Task 10 poster as JPG file (680 kb)
Abstract:	A report on selected environmental indicators of photovoltaic electricity in OECD cities was jointly published in May 2006 by the Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme of the International Energy Agency (IEA-PVPS), the European Photovoltaic Technology Platform and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). Based on a worldwide survey of existing studies concerning the energy input of PV systems, this report provides clear and well-defined figures. The energy pay-back time (EPBT) of a complete PV system is, depending on the solar irradiation of its location, in the range of 1,6 years to 3,3 years for a roof-mounted system, and from 2,7 to 4,7 for a PV-façade. Based on a commonly admitted 30 year-long commercial life cycle, the energy return factor (ERF) is between 8 and 18 for roof-mounted systems, and between 5,4 and 10 for façades. Varying widely from one country to another, using the energy production mix from each country, 1 single kW of PV panels can avoid up to 40 tons of Carbon dioxide (CO2) during its whole commercial life cycle - 23,5 tons for a façade. With a view to both better reflect the varying reality and to facilitate the use of the results at national and local levels by making customised figures available, the performance of PV systems is assessed on a country-by-country basis and even a city-by-city approach in larger countries where the potential for urban-scale integrated PV is highest, covering in total 41 main cities in 26 OECD countries.