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SHORT COMMUNICATION: ACCELERATED PUBLICATION: Broader Perspectives
Photovoltaics energy payback times, greenhouse gas emissions and external costs: 2004–early 2005 status
Article first published online: 29 MAR 2006
DOI: 10.1002/pip.706
Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Issue
1099-159X/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=98bb29f41b2b8f0c13c0f3f0d0e613753c247532 "Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications")
Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications
Volume 14, Issue 3, pages 275–280, May 2006
Additional Information
How to Cite
Fthenakis, V. and Alsema, E. (2006), Photovoltaics energy payback times, greenhouse gas emissions and external costs: 2004–early 2005 status. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, 14: 275–280. doi: 10.1002/pip.706
Publication History
- Issue published online: 29 MAR 2006
- Article first published online: 29 MAR 2006
- Manuscript Revised: 30 JAN 2006
- Manuscript Received: 29 DEC 2005
Funded by
- European Commission. Grant Number: SES6-CT_2003-502583
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- photovoltaics;
- energy payback;
- external costs;
- greenhouse emissions;
- life cycle
Abstract
Life cycle assessments and external cost estimates of photovoltaics have been often based on old data that do not reflect the extensive technological progress made over the past decade. Our assessment uses current (2004–early 2005) manufacturing data, from twelve European and US photovoltaic companies, and establishes the Energy Payback Times (EPBT), Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and external environmental costs of current commercial PV technologies. Estimates of external costs are about 70% lower than those in recent high-impact publications which were derived from the old data. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.