Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment of HyET Solar Powerfoil Modules

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparing HyET Solar's Powerfoil modules to conventional Passivated Emitter Rear Contact (PERC) technology. Through both current and future scenario analyses, utilizing tools like Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), the research examines key impact categories, including Global Warming Potential (GWP), Terrestrial Acidification, Land Use, and Material Resources.
Current scenario findings reveal that PERC modules exhibit significantly higher environmental impacts across most categories. The GWP of PERC modules is notably high at 50.1 grams CO2-equivalent per kWh, primarily driven by energy-intensive processes in inverter and silicon wafer production. Powerfoil modules, especially the triple-junction architecture, demonstrate reduced impacts with emissions as low as 23.8 grams CO2-equivalent per kWh.
Future scenario findings project even greater environmental benefits for Powerfoil modules by 2050. Efficiency improvements and material optimizations, including the replacement of existing top encapsulant and reducing the carrier foil thickness, could bring down the emissions to 6.2 grams CO2-equivalent per kWh, which is almost 70% lower than PERC modules.
The study also identifies critical hotspots in the Powerfoil modules’ lifecycle, providing a quantitative analysis of environmental impacts after replacing these hotspots in future scenarios. Furthermore, the Global Sensitivity Analysis highlights that module efficiency and solar irradiation are critical factors influencing environmental outcomes. These findings highlight the potential of Powerfoil modules as a more sustainable alternative in photovoltaic technology, with substantial implications for reducing the environmental footprint of energy systems.