Full Title: Energy and Carbon Payback Times for Modern U.S. Utility Photovoltaic Systems
Author(s): National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publisher(s): National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date: April 19, 2024
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Description (excerpt):
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies are helping decarbonize the U.S. electricity system by harnessing a renewable energy source—the sun. However, manufacturing and operating a PV system consumes non-renewable energy and produces carbon emissions, as does end-of-life handling when PV systems are eventually decommissioned. To fully account for PV’s contribution toward decarbonization, these life cycle impacts must be quantified.