Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1942/15493
Title: | Life cycle analyses of organic photovoltaics: A review | Authors: | LIZIN, Sebastien VAN PASSEL, Steven DE SCHEPPER, Ellen MAES, Wouter LUTSEN, Laurence MANCA, Jean VANDERZANDE, Dirk |
Issue Date: | 2013 | Source: | Energy & Environmental Science, 6 (11), p. 3136-3149 | Abstract: | This paper reviews the available life cycle analysis (LCA) literature on organic photovoltaics (OPV). This branch of OPV research has focused on the environmental impact of single-junction bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells using a P3HT/PC60BM active layer blend processed on semi-industrial pilot lines in ambient surroundings. The environmental impact was found to be strongly decreasing through continuous innovation of the manufacturing procedures. The current top performing cell regarding environmental performance has a cumulative energy demand of 37.58 MJp/m² and an energy payback time in the order of months for cells having 2% efficiency, hereby rendering OPV cells one of the best performing PV technologies from environmental point of view. Nevertheless, we find that LCA literature is lagging behind on the main body of OPV literature due to the lack of readily available input data. Still, LCA research has led us to believe that in the quest for higher efficiencies, environmental sustainability is being disregarded on the materials’ side. Hence, we advise the scientific community to take the progress made on environmental sustainability aspects of OPV preparations into account not only because standard procedures put a bigger strain on the environment, but also because these methods may not be transferrable to an industrial process. By consequence, we recommend policy makers to subsidize research that bridges the gaps between fundamental materials research, stability, and scalability given that these constraints have to be fulfilled simultaneously if OPV is ever to be successful on the market. Additionally, environmental sustainability will have to keep on being monitored to steer future developments in the right direction. | Notes: | Lizin, S (reprint author), Hasselt Univ, Ctr Environm Sci CMK, Agoralaan,Bldg D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. E-mail Addresses:sebastien.lizin@uhasselt.be; steven.vanpassel@uhasselt.be; ellen.deschepper@uhasselt.be; wouter.maes@uhasselt.be; laurence.lutsen@uhasselt.be; jean.manca@uhasselt.be; dirk.vanderzande@uhasselt.be | Keywords: | Environmental Sustainability; Life Cycle Analysis; Organic Photovoltaics; Product Innovation; Process Innovation | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/15493 | ISSN: | 1754-5692 | e-ISSN: | 1754-5706 | DOI: | 10.1039/C3EE42653J | ISI #: | 000325946400002 | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2014 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
life.pdf Restricted Access | 415.45 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open Request a copy |
SCOPUSTM
Citations
129
checked on Sep 2, 2020
WEB OF SCIENCETM
Citations
160
checked on Mar 22, 2024
Page view(s)
190
checked on Jun 13, 2022
Download(s)
174
checked on Jun 13, 2022
Google ScholarTM
Check
Altmetric
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.