A Simplified Model to Assess the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Modules

Perovskite/silicon tandem PV technology has demonstrated power conversion efficiencies (PCE) beyond 30% and is under extensive research. It is vital to assess its lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions to confirm its role in reducing the carbon footprint of the electricity sector. Life cycle assessment (LCA), a widely used methodology for environmental evaluation, is increasingly required by the authorities to support decision-making in energy transition. However, conducting a standard LCA is usually time-intensive and requires expertise on process and methodological choices. The aim of this research is to generate simplified but accurate model allowing to assess the carbon footprint of perovskite/Si tandem modules. Such simplified model is a tool for non-expert LCA users to obtain fast estimate of the carbon footprint of tandem modules with low requirements in terms of data collection. First, a parameterized model was built to describe the manufacturing of tandem modules while taking into account the variability of input parameters (e.g., PCE of the modules, etc.). Using global sensitivity analysis (GSA), key parameters influencing the result on climate change were identified: the consumption of c-Si, the power conversion efficiency of the modules and the thickness of solar glass. Based on these three key parameters, a simplified arithmetic expression was generated to allow for simple and fast estimate of the carbon footprint related to the manufacturing of perovskite/silicon tandem PV modules.