ENERGY PAY-BACK TIME AND CO2 EMISSION OF PV SYSTEMS

Abstract

Objective of this paper is to review existing knowledge on energy requirements for manufacturing of photovoltaic (PV) systems and to give some representative calculations for the energy pay-back time and the CO2 emissions. Both c-Si and thin film module technologies are analized. In this paper we have reviewed the energy viability of photovoltaic energy technology to answer the question whether PV systems can generate suficient energy output in comparison with the energy input required during production of the system components. The conversion efficiency, material usage, and production energy efficiency of PV systems are improving rapidly. Frequent updates of these analyses are necessary to follow this evolution.