CAREER: Environmental Sustainability of Photovoltaics in the US

该项目的总体目标是开发一种综合模拟工具，以评估技术变革、经济和政策对美国太阳能光伏发电（pv）环境影响的综合影响。它将提供的成果包括：1)一个新的组件数据库和光伏组件分类方法；2)确定有助于组件选择的因素；3)当前和未来光伏技术的材料库存、毒性和可回收性；4)所制造组件的生命周期评估。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，该工具将适用于教育和推广活动。在这项工作中开发的模拟工具将用于研究、教学和推广，并促进与其他能源技术相比与光伏相关的权衡的讨论。根据初步调查结果和已发表的工作，研究者假设：1)由于技术改进、政策和经济激励未被考虑，自重新供电以来，组件的平均寿命被高估了；2)光伏的环境效益被高估了，因为发电没有根据组件的电气性能（基于位置、未来电网碳足迹和新组件设计的材料库存）来估计。4)光伏组件的成分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降低，而复杂性正在增加，这将增加组件100%回收的成本。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及其相关生命周期成本和环境影响的综合影响；7)可持续性教育的教育模拟工具可以帮助培训熟练的工程师在能源部门工作。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，向可持续太阳能技术迈出重要的一步。它旨在提供对美国光伏技术，政策，使用，回收和处置的综合影响的见解。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关注，并将其纳入推广和教学工具，以帮助增加对光伏技术的信任。从这项工作中收集的生命周期清单数据将提交美国LCA共享。此外，研究者将(1)为本科生开发一门新的关于能量生命周期评估的课程，该课程将纳入主动学习的决策工具；(2)指导跨学科工作的学生了解光伏部署的所有生命周期阶段和影响；(3)组织关于可持续发展和光伏能源的演讲；(4)通过与密歇根州能源企业组织各种活动和为光伏科学家举办会议，支持和鼓励光伏和其他能源部门的多样性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.