Sustainability Analysis of Residential Photovoltaic Systems: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach

• Main Authors: Caballa, Lorenzo Gabriel C, Recto, King Harold A
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2023
• Subjects: Life cycle assessment; Photovoltaic systems; Renewable energy sources; Solar energy; Production; Recycling; Sustainable development; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Engineering; Oil, Gas, and Energy; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; Power and Energy
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/ecce-faculty-pubs/170; https:/doi.org/10.1109/HNICEM60674.2023.10589005
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Renewable energy has emerged as a prominent topic in dialogues about energy production sustainability in the Philippines. This is mostly attributed to the excessive dependence of the country on imported petroleum and fossil fuels, which are well recognized for their detrimental effects on the environment. Solar energy is often acknowledged as a very accessible kind of renewable energy, especially in tropical nations like the Philippines, owing to the country's abundant sun irradiation levels throughout the year. Despite the significant progress made in solar technology and its effective implementation in residential environments, some limits continue because of constraints associated with photovoltaic technology, economic feasibility, and environmental implications. The use of the life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology offers a structured framework for the examination and evaluation of the sustainability aspects pertaining to residential PV systems. This research does this by investigating PV systems throughout their lifecycle, starting with the selection of materials, manufacturing process, operation, and maintenance, and concluding with the environmental impacts at the end-of-life phase. Subsequently, this paper will also discuss the policy implications arising from the study results. The research aims to provide valuable insights into PV residential systems in the Philippines and aspires to contribute to policy-relevant literature in this field.