Page 233 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

222 R. Laleman et al.

Fig. 5 GWP for various types of residential 3 kWp PV systems (Ecoinvent v2.0)

3.4 Eco-Indicator 99

3.4.1 Eco-Indicator 99 (H, A)
From Fig. 6, we can see that the CdTe PV system has the highest impact score
(450 points) according to the EI 99 (H,A). This is surprising since the technology
performed very well according to the GWP and EPT indicators. The other thin film
technologies, CIS and ribbon Si, have a much lower impact (317 and 353 points,
respectively). These findings are consistent with Jungbluth et al. (2008a, b).
Figure 6 also shows that ‘‘depletion of fossil fuels’’ and ‘‘respiratory effects’’
both have a significant share in the overall Eco-Indicator impact score. This is
probably linked to the energy use during the PV-panel production and transport.
Research has shown that in many cases fossil fuel extraction, respiratory effects,
climate change, acidification, and carcinogenics are closely related to each other,

Fig. 6 Eco-Indicator ‘99 (H,A) results for various types of residential 3 kWp PV systems
(Ecoinvent v2.0)