Guys, I am doing a Life Cycle Analysis on Solar Panels for school does anybody have any links with useful information. Thanks. Mike
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wakeman84 @ Apr 17 2006, 04:10 PM) [snapback]241157[/snapback]</div> Mike, I just googled "Life Cycle Analysis of Solar Panels" and it came up with a link to NASA .... seems like a few links there. gary
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wakeman84 @ Apr 17 2006, 07:10 PM) [snapback]241157[/snapback]</div> Home Power Magazine # 80 (that would be a few years back) did a tech article on that. This is the introduction: Critics of solar energy have been known to claim that it takes more energy to produce photovoltaic (PV) modules than the modules will produce in their lifetime. We’ve conducted a detailed and scientific empirical study to look into this question. We found that the skeptics’ assertions are false. PVs recoup their production energy in two to four years, and go on to produce clean, renewable energy for twenty to thirty years or more!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wakeman84 @ Apr 18 2006, 07:10 AM) [snapback]241157[/snapback]</div> What is the life cycle for a solar panel? Are you talking about going from the raw silicon in the ground to the eventual need to replace the panel when it dies? The guys who installed our solar panels told us that there is an array they know about that was installed in the late 50's which is still running. Our panels are warranted to produce 80 percent of their rated power after 25 years of service. Long life cycle. B
Life cycle analysis is tracking the resources, fuel, etc... used to produce and dispose of solar panels starting with silicon in the ground and ending with either the recycling or disposal of the panels after their useful life. Mike
