LIFE-CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THIN-FILM SILICON SOLAR CELLS

Photovoltaic, or solar electricity, is a promising renewable energy technology that is rapidly becoming more viable for widespread use. Ongoing technological improvements in the solar cell industry continue to enhance performance and reduce costs. However, like any industrial product,photovoltaic panels are also associated with certain environmental impacts.This paper addresses major environmental concerns related to solar PV systems, including the energy required for their manufacture (especially photovoltaic cells), end-of-life management, and the use or generation of toxic and other potentially harmful materials during production. Due to advancements in cell processing technologies and PV panel manufacturing, energy payback times have decreased significantly and now typically range from 2 to 5 years, with thin-film technologies at the lower end of this range.For silicon-based technologies, there are clear opportunities to further reduce energy input, and an energy payback time of about one year may be achievable in the near future. This study focuses on the negative environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle of thin-film solar cells, from production to final disposal.