The performed study conducted a carbon footprint model to calculate the benefit of carbon reduction and advantages in the economy of centralized PV power plants in order to demonstrate the carbon emissions
Amidst the accelerated growth of the global economy, there is a rise in energy consumption. Coal, a plentiful and superior solid fuel, plays an incredibly crucial role in energy consumption [1]
Renewable energy options, such as solar panels, effectively combat climate change and carbon emissions. Solar energy accounts for about 2% of the world''s total energy budget in 2019, and experts predict solar technology will continue
According to Tables 3 and in 2011, the carbon emissions generated during the production and construction of a PV system in China accounted for approximately 88 % of the total carbon emissions throughout the whole life cycle of a PV system, and this proportion remained as high as approximately 80 % in 2018.
As shown in Table 8, the total carbon emissions during the waste disposal phase for the centralized PV power plants was calculated as −246.15 kg. The energy and resources consumption caused carbon emissions, with the energy consumption occupying 79.99% and the resources consumption occupying 20.01%.
Thus, until the end of life, the PV panels continuously generate electricity with the carbon footprint determined in the production year. The same scenario is applied to PV panels produced yearly.
It was emphasized that the emission amount from fossil fuels will decrease significantly as a result of using the PV panel. In the case of PV panels are used by 2030, it was predicted that 69–100 million tons of CO 2, 126000−184000 tons of SO 2, and 68000−99000 tons of NO x will reduce emissions.
They showed that the carbon emission rate ranged from 37.3 to 72.2 g CO 2 /kWh, but the data used in this study were derived from relevant literature on PV module-exporting countries and certain assumptions. Similarly, Kabakian et al. assessed the environmental impact of a 1.8-kW mono-Si PV system in Lebanon.
Solar panels do not produce emissions while generating electricity, but the operations and maintenance life cycle stage and the end-of-life treatment stage are included in this study to emphasize the relative emission reductions from panel manufacturing reshoring in the context of PV panel lifetime emissions.
