CAREER: Environmental Sustainability of Photovoltaics in the US

该项目的总体主旨是开发一个综合模拟工具，以评估技术变化、经济和政策对美国太阳能光伏(PV)环境影响的综合影响。它将提供的成果包括1)新的光伏组件数据库和分类方法，2)确定影响组件选择的因素，3)当前和未来光伏技术的材料库存、毒性和可回收性，4)对在美国制造、使用和回收的组件进行生命周期评估，5)一个综合模拟工具，用于计算光伏系统的成本和生命周期对环境的影响，该工具将被用于教育和推广活动。这项工作中开发的模拟工具将用于研究、教学和推广，并有助于讨论与光伏相关的与其他能源技术的权衡。基于初步发现和发表的工作，研究人员假设：1)由于技术改进而重新供电，没有考虑政策和经济激励，高估了模块的平均寿命；2)由于没有基于位置、未来电网碳足迹和新模块设计的材料库存来估计发电量，因此高估了光伏的环境效益；3)模块提前退役可以为第二生命的光伏模块创造一个市场，4)光伏组件的组成和毒性在过去十年中发生了变化，5)光伏组件的价值随着时间的推移而减少，而复杂性增加，这将增加100%回收光伏组件的成本，6)综合模拟模型可以帮助预测技术经济和政策变化对基于位置的最佳光伏系统规模以及相关的生命周期成本和环境影响的综合影响，7)可持续发展教育的教育模拟工具可以帮助培训熟练的工程师在能源领域工作。该提案的目标是通过对当前和未来的光伏技术进行全面分析，向可持续的太阳能技术迈出重要的一步。它试图提供对美国光伏技术、政策、使用、回收和处置的综合影响的洞察。需要对废物流的材料、毒性和价值进行表征，以规划法规和/或强制回收，以防止有毒废物。这项研究将解决公众对光伏的担忧，这些担忧将被纳入推广和教学工具，以帮助增加人们对光伏技术的信任。从这项工作中收集的生命周期清单数据将被提交以纳入美国LCA Commons。此外，研究人员将(1)为本科生开发一个关于能源生命周期评估的新课程，其中将纳入主动学习的决策工具；(2)指导将跨学科工作的学生，以了解光伏应用的所有生命周期阶段和影响；(3)组织关于可持续性和光伏能源的演讲；以及(4)通过与密歇根能源企业和光伏科学家会议组织各种活动，支持和鼓励光伏和其他能源领域的多样性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The overall thrust of this project is to develop an integrated simulation tool to evaluate the combined effect of technology change, economics, and policy on the environmental impact of solar photovoltaics (PVs) over time in the US. It will provide outcomes including 1) a novel module database and classification method for PV modules, 2) the identification of factors that contribute to module selection, 3) the material inventory, toxicity, and recyclability of current and future PV technologies, 4) the life cycle assessment of modules manufactured, used and recycled in the US and 5) an integrated simulation tool to calculate the cost and life cycle environmental impact of PV systems that will be adapted for education and outreach activities. The simulation tool developed in this work will be used for research, teaching, and outreach and facilitate discussion of the tradeoffs associated with PV compared to other energy technologies.Based on preliminary findings and published work, the investigator hypothesizes that 1) the average lifetime of modules has been overestimated since repowering due to technology improvement, policy and economic incentives are not considered, 2) the environmental benefit of PV has been overestimated since electricity generation is not estimated based on the module’s electrical performances based on location, future grid carbon footprint and material inventory from new modules designs, 3) early module retirement can create a market for second-life PV modules, 4) the composition and toxicity of PV modules has changed in the last decade, 5) the value of PV modules over time decreases while complexity is increasing which will increase the cost for recycling 100% of the modules, 6) an integrative simulation model can help anticipate the combined effect of technology economic and policy changes on the optimal PV system size based on location and its associated life cycle cost and environmental impact and 7) an educative simulation tool for sustainability education can help train skilled engineers to work in energy sector. This proposal’s objectives represent important steps toward sustainable solar technologies by proposing a comprehensive analysis of current and future PV technologies. It seeks to provide insight on the combined impact of technology, policy, use, recycling, and disposal of PV in the US. The characterization of the material, toxicity, and value of the waste stream is required to plan regulations and/or mandatory recycling to prevent toxic waste. The research will address public concerns about PV that will be incorporated into outreach and teaching tools to help increase trust in PV technology. Life cycle inventory data collected from this work will be submitted for inclusion US LCA Commons. Also, the investigator will (1) develop a new class on life cycle assessment of energy for undergraduate that will incorporate the decision tool for active learning; (2) mentor students who will work across disciplines to understand all life-cycle stages and impact of photovoltaics deployment; (3) organize presentations on sustainability and PV energy; and (4) support and encourage diversity in PV and other energy sectors through organization of various events with the Michigan energy businesses and at conferences for PV scientists.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.