Comparative Analysis of Small and Large Capacity Sized On-grid, Rooftop Solar PV Systems - An LCA Approach

Due to scarce hydrocarbon reserves in India, majorly Coal and to some extent Nuclear remain the most dependable sources of energy in near future, to meet the ever-growing demand for energy in its instant form, i.e. Electricity. Renewables such as Solar PV and Wind are relatively clean sources of electricity, but they have their own drawbacks in terms of potential, penetration, technology and the scale of deployment. But these options can supplement our energy needs to some extent. A comparative LCA study of two different capacity sized and grid-connected Solar PV systems installed on the flat rooftop of buildings located at different geographical sites within India is carried out by modelling them to run on SimaPro 9.0.0.48 LCA software with ECOINVENT 3 as database. This study covers all-important Inventory Analysis for the inputs used in terms of energy and materials, outputs resulted in terms of energy and environmental releases. The study results are expressed in the form of predefined energy metrics such as CED and EPBT. Further, this study covers the environmental impact assessment category such as GWP, and the result is presented with kWh of electricity produced by these systems as a functional unit. Further, these investigations help energy planners and policymakers to compare various power generating options and also the same option with varied capacities so that the decision on future investments in the power sector can be made in a more justifiable manner for a clean and sustainable future.