Life cycle analysis of silane recycling in amorphous silicon-based solar photovoltaic manufacturing

Amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)-based solar cells have the lowest ecological impact of photovoltaic (PV) materials. In order to continue to improve the environmental performance of PV manufacturing using proposed industrial symbiosis techniques, this paper performs a life cycle analysis (LCA) on both conventional 1-GW scaled a-Si:H-based single junction and a-Si:H/microcrystalline-Si:H tandem cell solar PV manufacturing plants and such plants coupled to silane recycling plants. Both the energy consumed and greenhouse gas emissions are tracked in the LCA, then silane gas is reused in the manufacturing process rather than standard waste combustion. Using a recycling process that results in a silane loss of only 17% instead of conventional processing that loses 85% silane, results in an energy savings of 81,700 GJ and prevents 4400 tons of CO₂ from being released into the atmosphere per year for the single junction plant. Due to the increased use of silane for the relatively thick microcrystalline-Si:H layers in the tandem junction plants, the savings are even more substantial – 290,000 GJ of energy savings and 15.6 million kg of CO₂ eq. emission reductions per year. This recycling process reduces the cost of raw silane by 68%, or approximately $22.6 million per year for a 1-GW a-Si:H-based PV production facility and over $79 million per year for tandem manufacturing. The results are discussed and conclusions are drawn about the technical feasibility and environmental benefits of silane recycling in an eco-industrial park centered around a-Si:H-based PV manufacturing plants.     

Potential of solar domestic hot water systems in rural areas for greenhouse gas emission reduction in Poland

Application of solar energy for preparing domestic hot water is one of the easiest methods of utilization of this energy. At least part of the needs for warm tap water could be covered by solar systems. At present, mainly coal is used for water heating at dwellings in rural areas in Poland. Warm tap water consumption will increase significantly in the future as standards of living are improved. This can result in the growth of electricity use and an increase in primary fuel consumption. Present and future methods of warm sanitary water generation in rural areas in Poland is discussed, and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are estimated. It is predicted that the emission of CO₂ and NOx will increase. The emission of CO and CH₄ will decrease because of changes in the structure of the final energy carriers used. The economic and market potentials of solar energy for preparing warm water in rural areas are discussed. It is estimated that solar systems can meet 30%–45% of the energy demand for warm water generation in rural areas at a reasonable cost, with a corresponding CO₂ emission reduction. The rate of realization of the economic potential of solar water heaters depends on subsidies for the installation of equipment.

     

Life cycle assessment of a pulverized coal power plant with post-combustion capture, transport and storage of CO2

In this study the methodology of life cycle assessment has been used to assess the environmental impacts of three pulverized coal fired electricity supply chains with and without carbon capture and storage (CCS) on a cradle to grave basis. The chain with CCS comprises post-combustion CO₂ capture with monoethanolamine, compression, transport by pipeline and storage in a geological reservoir. The two reference chains represent sub-critical and state-of-the-art ultra supercritical pulverized coal fired electricity generation. For the three chains we have constructed a detailed greenhouse gas (GHG) balance, and disclosed environmental trade-offs and co-benefits due to CO₂ capture, transport and storage. Results show that, due to CCS, the GHG emissions per kWh are reduced substantially to 243 g/kWh. This is a reduction of 78 and 71% compared to the sub-critical and state-of-the-art power plant, respectively. The removal of CO₂ is partially offset by increased GHG emissions in up- and downstream processes, to a small extent (0.7 g/kWh) caused by the CCS infrastructure. An environmental co-benefit is expected following from the deeper reduction of hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride emissions. Most notable environmental trade-offs are the increase in human toxicity, ozone layer depletion and fresh water ecotoxicity potential for which the CCS chain is outperformed by both other chains. The state-of-the-art power plant without CCS also shows a better score for the eutrophication, acidification and photochemical oxidation potential despite the deeper reduction of SO_x and NO_x in the CCS power plant. These reductions are offset by increased emissions in the life cycle due to the energy penalty and a factor five increase in NH₃ emissions.     

Economic and Environmental Analysis of Retrofitting a Large Office Building with Energy-Efficient Lighting Systems

An evaluation of the economic and environmental costs and benefits that would result if the Zorinsky Federal Building, located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, converted its current lighting system to a more energy-efficient system (i.e., joined the EPA's Green Lights Program) was conducted. Lighting accounts for 20–25 percent of all electricity sold in the United States. Costs considered in the study included the cost of retrofitting the building's existing lighting system and the cost of disposal of the current lamps and ballast fixtures. Benefits included a reduction of electric utility costs and a reduction of emissions of SO₂, NO _x , CO₂, and CO from electric utility power plants. Environmental and health issues for air pollutant emissions were also addressed. The results showed that significant reductions in utility bills as well as reductions in air emissions would result from a major building converting to a more energy efficient lighting system. The results showed that conversion of this large building would reduce SO₂ emissions by 14.6 tons/yr and NO _x emissions by 6.3 tons/yr. In addition, the conversion would reduce annual energy costs by approximately $114,000.     

基于产业链分析的长三角地区CO2与大气污染物排放研究

长三角地区作为我国大气污染较为严重区域之一,如何在保持经济增长的同时减少CO₂与大气污染物的排放已成为一个重要挑战。本研究基于2007年与2012年长三角区域间投入产出表,定量分析了长三角地区省市间贸易引致的二氧化碳和大气污染物排放转移特征和变化趋势。同时,运用产业关联系数法,从前向关联与后向关联双重视角分析了长三角地区减缓CO₂和大气污染物排放的关键行业。研究结果表明,长三角的SO₂、PM_2.5排放总量表现为消费端大于生产端,CO₂、NO_x排放总量表现为生产端大于消费端。安徽省总体呈现为长三角地区贸易的SO₂、NO_x与PM_2.5排放净调出地,而上海与浙江表现为多数污染物排放净调入地。CO₂与大气污染物协同前向减排的关键行业为江苏省、浙江省和安徽省的电力、热力的生产和供应业,安徽省的煤炭开采和洗选业等,可以通过生产端技术革新和能源结构优化来促进减排;CO₂与大气污染物后向协同减排的关键行业为江苏省、浙江省和安徽省的建筑业等,对于这些行业,调整消费结构是有效的减排措施。为更好地制定长三角地区减排与污染防治政策,应当综合考虑行业减排、协同减排等,以确保经济持续增长的同时达到减排目标。     

Heterostructure CdS/ZnS nanoparticles as a visible light-driven photocatalyst for hydrogen generation from water

(CdS)_x/(ZnS)_1–x nanoparticles were synthesized as a visible light-driven photocatalyst using the stepped microemulsion technique with a series of the ratio factors (x). The photocatalytic test results showed that (CdS)_x/(ZnS)_1-x with x = 0.8 had the highest photo-reactivity for H₂ production from water under visible light. The composite (CdS)_0.8/(ZnS)_0.2 catalyst had a heterogeneous structure that exhibited a much greater photocatalytic hydrogen production activity than either pure CdS or the homogeneous Cd_0.8Zn_0.2S solid solution. ZnS deposition also was shown to largely improve the stability of CdS in the heterostructured CdS/ZnS catalyst. Thermal treatment of the catalyst, i.e., annealing (CdS)_0.8/(ZnS)_0.2 at 723 K, improved the crystallinity of the catalyst and increased its photocatalytic H₂ production rate by more than 36 times. Deposition of Ru on the surface of the catalyst particles by in situ photo-deposition further increased the photo-H₂ generation rate by 3 times. The photocatalyst of 0.5%Ru/CdS/ZnS achieved the highest H₂ production activity, at a rate of 12650 μmol/g-h and with a light to hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 6.5%.     

Quantifying the sources of ozone, fine particulate matter, and regional haze in the Southeastern United States

A detailed sensitivity analysis was conducted to quantify the contributions of various emission sources to ozone (O₃), fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), and regional haze in the Southeastern United States. O₃ and particulate matter (PM) levels were estimated using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system and light extinction values were calculated from modeled PM concentrations. First, the base case was established using the emission projections for the year 2009. Then, in each model run, SO₂, primary carbon (PC), NH₃, NO_x or VOC emissions from a particular source category in a certain geographic area were reduced by 30% and the responses were determined by calculating the difference between the results of the reduced emission case and the base case.The sensitivity of summertime O₃ to VOC emissions is small in the Southeast and ground-level NO_x controls are generally more beneficial than elevated NO_x controls (per unit mass of emissions reduced). SO₂ emission reduction is the most beneficial control strategy in reducing summertime PM_2.5 levels and improving visibility in the Southeast and electric generating utilities are the single largest source of SO₂. Controlling PC emissions can be very effective locally, especially in winter. Reducing NH₃ emissions is an effective strategy to reduce wintertime ammonium nitrate (NO₃NH₄) levels and improve visibility; NO_x emissions reductions are not as effective. The results presented here will help the development of specific emission control strategies for future attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in the region.     

The Environmental “Risky” Region: Identifying Land Degradation Processes Through Integration of Socio-Economic and Ecological Indicators in a Multivariate Regionalization Model

The economic policy needs to pay increasingly more attention to the environmental issues, which requires the development of methodologies able to incorporate environmental, as well as macroeconomic, goals in the design of public policies. Starting from this observation, this article proposes a methodology based upon a Simonian satisficing logic made operational with the help of goal programming (GP) models, to address the joint design of macroeconomic and environmental policies. The methodology is applied to the Spanish economy, where a joint policy is elicited, taking into consideration macroeconomic goals (economic growth, inflation, unemployment, public deficit) and environmental goals (CO₂, NO _x and SO _x emissions) within the context of a computable general equilibrium model. The results show how the government can “fine-tune” its policy according to different criteria using GP models. The resulting policies aggregate the environmental and the economic goals in different ways: maximum aggregate performance, maximum balance and a lexicographic hierarchy of the goals.     

Planning implications from the interactions between renewable energy programs and carbon regulation

Complex relationships exist between programs to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the electricity sector and programs to promote renewable electricity generation. Simulation modeling of three scenarios in the UK electricity sector are used to identify potential interactions between these programs. A strict CO₂ cap can result in a renewable electricity requirement being easily met. Conversely, the renewables quota could be required under low natural gas prices to keep electricity suppliers from switching from coal to gas. Similarly, CO₂ trading can reduce renewables deployment levels because purchased CO₂ allowances replace renewables. Therefore, both programs are required to ensure CO₂ and renewables goals. The planning implications for administrative procedures and renewables subsidies are also discussed.     

Desorption of CO2 from activated carbon fibre–phenolic resin composite by electrothermal effect

CO₂ capture by electrothermal swing adsorption is considered superior over conventional adsorption approaches: temperature swing adsorption and pressure swing adsorption. In this work, the effects of electricity, preheating and flow rate were studied. An increase in energy input by electricity has been found able to improve desorption performance more significantly than an increase in current level. However, higher current level is recommended because it can minimise energy loss while passing electricity. Higher flow rate can also be beneficial due to the improved desorption rate and reduced desorption time. However, there is a drop in CO₂ concentration in the effluent gas. When desorption takes place at a high current level, preheating is not required as it extends desorption duration with no obvious improvement in desorption rate. CO₂ capture by electrothermal swing adsorption has also been tested with different concentrations of CO₂. It is found that electrothermal swing adsorption can be more energy efficient while dealing with higher concentration CO₂.     

Do Nutrients Limit Algal Periphyton in Small Blackwater Coastal Plain Streams?1

Abstract: We examine the potential for nutrient limitation of algal periphyton biomass in blackwater streams draining the Georgia coastal plain. Previous studies have investigated nutrient limitation of planktonic algae in large blackwater rivers, but virtually no scientific information exists regarding how algal periphyton respond to nutrients under different light conditions in smaller, low‐flow streams. We used a modification of the Matlock periphytometer (nutrient‐diffusing substrata) to determine if algal growth was nutrient limited and/or light limited at nine sites spanning a range of human impacts from relatively undisturbed forested basins to highly disturbed agricultural sites. We employed four treatments in both shaded and sunny conditions at each site: (1) control, (2) N (NO₃‐N), (3) P (PO₄‐P), and (4) N + P (NO₃‐N + PO₄‐P). Chlorophyll a response was measured on 10 replicate substrates per treatment, after 15 days of in situ exposure. Chlorophyll a values did not approach what have been defined as nuisance levels (i.e., 100‐200 mg/m²), even in response to nutrient enrichment in sunny conditions. For Georgia coastal plain streams, algal periphyton growth appears to be primarily light limited and can be secondarily nutrient limited (most commonly by P or N + P combined) in light gaps and/or open areas receiving sunlight.     

长沙市空气自动站周边区域大气污染物排放源清单

以长沙市空气自动站周边3 km为研究对象,基于统计年鉴和实地调查,获得了该地区2015年储存运输源、废弃物处理源、工艺过程源、化石燃料固定燃烧源、农业源、生物质燃烧源、扬尘源、移动源8个源类的活动水平数据。以大气污染物排放源清单编制技术指南为依据,建立了2015年长沙市空气自动站周边3 km区域NH_3、NO_x、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、SO_2、VOCs等6项污染物的源排放清单。结果表明,2015年长沙空气自动站周边3 km内,8类大气污染源排放的NH_3、NO_x、PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)、SO_2、VOCs总量分别为53.65t、4 899.35t、1 846.09t、6 257.75t、989.49t、4 383.31t。NH_3、NO_x、PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)、SO_2、VOCs排放量最大的源分别是农业源、移动源、扬尘源、扬尘源、化石燃料固定燃烧源和移动源,贡献率分别为98.45%、84.24%、60.82%、85.90%、97.33%、49.88%。优化道路交通、减少燃煤、减少建筑工地扬尘排放可促进长沙市空气自动站周边空气质量改善。     

Some Physical Properties of CdO Thin Films Used as Window Material in Photovoltaic Solar Cells

Abstract

CdO thin films which can be used in photovoltaic solar cells as window material were obtained on glass substrates at 250°C and 300°C substrate temperatures using Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) technique. The electrical, optical, structural, and surface properties of the films were investigated for two different substrate temperatures. After all investigations, it is concluded that, the CdO thin films can be used in photovoltaic solar cells as window materials and cell efficiencies can be increased using different growth parameters.     

城市电动汽车规模化发展的大气环境影响研究

发展电动汽车被认为是有效缓解城市交通污染的重要措施,但大规模的电动汽车发展不仅有增加电力部门排放的风险,而且可能影响电网运营的稳定性。本研究以南京市为例,综合应用充电行为模式调研、蒙特卡洛模拟、COPERT模型、排放因子法等方法,系统研究了私家车、出租车和公交车三种类型电动汽车的充电特征及其对区域交通和电力部门排放的影响。结果表明,当三种车型的电动化率分别达到50%、100%和100%时,城市的NOx、PM_(2.5)、CO、VOCs和CO_2排放量将分别比基准情景减少378t、305t、20 223t、3649t和480万t。但是,SO_2排放增加了1152t,并且导致南京市电网的夏季峰值负荷增加10%。为更好地改善中国城市环境空气质量,应综合考虑电动汽车有序充电、协同促进清洁电力等发展策略,最大限度地实现电动汽车的环境效益。     

Thermal modeling and analysis of novel twin-chamber community solar cooker as a replacement of biomass-based cooking

A novel design of twin-chamber community solar (TCCS) cooker is presented as a replacement of biomass-based cooking. The novelty of separating a single rectangular cooking chamber into separate twin chambers (of 1-m² aperture area each) improves the cooking performance as opening of one chamber for unloading of food cooked in lesser time (rice) does not disturb the stagnation temperature of the other chamber (pulses and meat) needing more time to cook besides resulting in reduction in side heat loss coefficient due to common wall. Aperture area and cooking volume of TCCS cooker are 9.54 and 35.33 times more as compared to single-chamber domestic solar (SCDS) cooker which makes it a community-scale large-capacity solar cooker. The developed solar radiation capture model and overall heat loss coefficient (U_l) computed for TCCS cooker have been used in a thermal model developed between various interactive components. First (F₁) and second figures of merit (F₂) values are 0.13 and 0.42, respectively, for TCCS cooker at par with ‘A’ grade category SCDS cooker. Techno-economic analysis shows that the net present value of TCCS cooker is Rs. 83,253 with break-even point occurring after cooking 43,461 meals with payback period of only 25, 50, and 72 months if used as a replacement for LPG, cow dung cakes, and wood-based cooking, respectively. Environmental impact analysis shows that the use of the proposed cooker can mitigate 2, 5.9, and 4.1 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year by not burning LPG, cow dung cakes, and wood respectively.     

我国长江流域中三角区域大气污染物排放特征研究

中三角区域已经是我国第四个国家级城市群,也将成为我国经济增长的"第四极"。在经济发展的同时,更需要以节能减排、资源环境等为重点,以实现经济建设与生态文明"双可持续"的协同发展。本文以二氧化硫、氮氧化物、烟(粉)尘为主要大气污染物,对我国中三角区域大气污染物排放进行了详细的分析,并与京津冀、长三角、珠三角、"三区十群"等进行了多方位比较。结果表明,2013年中三角区域二氧化硫排放量为151.7万t,其中工业二氧化硫排放量为140.1万t;氮氧化物排放量为147.2万t,其中工业氮氧化物排放量为93.6万t;烟(粉)尘排放量为81.8万t,其中工业烟(粉)尘排放量为71.4万t。中三角区域二氧化硫、氮氧化物、烟(粉)尘排放量均位于"四极"的第三。中三角区域二氧化硫、氮氧化物、烟(粉)尘单位GDP排放强度分别为25.03t/亿元、24.29 t/亿元、13.50 t/亿元,分别位于"四极"的第一、第二、第二。同时,本文还从经济发展模式、产业结构调整、煤炭消费方式等方面对我国中三角等经济"四极"提出了相关建议。     

Influence of Geoengineered Climate on the Terrestrial Biosphere

Various geoengineering schemes have been proposed to counteract anthropogenically induced climate change. In a previous study, it was suggested that a 1.8% reduction in solar radiation incident on the Earths surface could noticeably reduce regional and seasonal climate change from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, the response of the terrestrial biosphere to reduced solar radiation in a CO₂-rich climate was not investigated. In this study, we hypothesized that a reduction in incident solar radiation in a Doubled CO₂ atmosphere will diminish the net primary productivity (NPP) of terrestrial ecosystems, potentially accelerating the accumulation of CO₂ in the atmosphere. We used a dynamic global ecosystem model, the Integrated Biosphere Simulator (IBIS), to investigate this hypothesis in an unperturbed climatology. While this simplified modeling framework effectively separated the influence of CO₂ and sunlight on the terrestrial biosphere, it did not consider the complex feedbacks within the Earths climate system. Our analysis indicated that compared to a Doubled CO₂ scenario, reduction in incident solar radiation by 1.8% in a double CO₂ world will have negligible impact on the NPP of terrestrial ecosystems. There were, however, spatial variations in the response of NPP-engineered solar radiation. While productivity decreased by less than 2% in the tropical and boreal forests as hypothesized, it increased by a similar percentage in the temperate deciduous forests and grasslands. This increase in productivity was attributed to a 1% reduction in evapotranspiration in the Geoengineered scenario relative to the Doubled CO₂ scenario. Our initial hypothesis was rejected because of unanticipated effects of engineered solar radiation on the hydrologic cycle. However, any geoengineering approaches that reduce incident solar radiation need to be thoroughly analyzed in view of the implications on ecosystem productivity and the hydrologic cycle.     

LCA study of photovoltaic systems based on different technologies

This work deals with the application of a Life Cycle Assessment approach for evaluating the environmental and energy impacts ascribed to the production of photovoltaic (PV) cells of first and second generations. PV technologies based on silicon and CuInSe₂ (CIS) thin films were taken into account herein. PV systems prepared with amorphous silicon (a-Si) showed a low environmental impact and short energy payback time when compared to those ones obtained using crystalline silicon (c-Si). PV technologies associated with mono-crystal (mono-Si) and polycrystalline silicon (multi-Si) showed large emissions of CO₂, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, particulates, and SO₂ into air per square meter of PV panel processed. In addition, these technologies displayed a significant fossil fuel demand, biological oxygen demand, and global warming potential, which make them eco-unfriendly. Ribbon silicon (ribbon-Si) and CIS thin films showed intermediate impact scores, but further improvements in their production chain are needed before these devices are commercially used. The technologies examined herein were categorized in first- and second-generation technologies in order to compare their environmental impact and conversion efficiency. Much attention was also paid to the development of third-generation PV cells with improved conversion efficiencies and lower environmental impacts.     

Thermal energy storage and thermodynamic properties of (E)-3-m-tolylbut-2-enoic acid as a medium temperature phase change material

Phase change materials (PCMs) that can store and release heat energy over the temperature range from 363 to 393 K are crucial for solar absorption cooling, and it is worthy to seek new solid-liquid PCMs candidates that melt and crystallize in this temperature range. In this paper, (E)-3-m-tolylbut-2-enoic acid (mTBEA) was applied as a PCM candidate. Its thermal energy storage properties and thermal stability were systematically investigated. The results showed that mTBEA melted at 382.9 ± 0.5 K and crystallized at about 364 K, with a melting enthalpy (Δ_fusH) of 138.4 ± 6.9 J g^?1 and showed good long-term cyclic stability and thermal stability. The supercooling of mTBEA was stabilized at about 20 K, indicating that the conservation condition of melted mTBEA could be simple. In addition, the melted mTBEA could release all the absorbed thermal energy upon crystallizing. Besides, mTBEA exhibited good thermal stability for it to be applied as PCM. Hence, mTBEA is a promising PCM candidate for solar absorption cooling. Furthermore, the heat capacity of mTBEA was measured by modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC) over the temperature range from 198.15 to 431.15 K, and the molar thermodynamic functions, [H_T-H_298.15]_m and [S_T-S_298.15]_m, were calculated based on the fitted molar heat capacity data.     

Photovoltaic-thermal (PV/t) panel to minimize electrical and air conditioning energy consumption of a typical office in Beirut

A combined photovoltaic–thermal (PV/t) panel is proposed to produce simultaneously electricity and heat from one integrated unit. The unit utilizes effectively the solar energy through achieving higher PV electrical efficiency and using the thermal energy for heating applications. To predict the performance of the PV/t at a given environmental conditions, a transient mathematical model was developed. The model was integrated in a heating application for a typical office space in the city of Beirut to provide the office needs for electricity, heating during winter season, and dehumidification and evaporative cooling during the summer season. To minimize the yearly office energy (electrical and heat) needs, the PV/t panel cooling air flow rate and the dehumidification regeneration temperature were determined for opimal unit operation. Thermal energy savings of up to 85% in winter and 71% in summer were achived compared to conventional systems at a payback period of 8 years for the panels.