Sep 20 2010
A team of researchers from Rochester Institute of Technology have assessed the environmental impact of organic solar cells. The study goes on to evaluate the performance, material usage and manufacture of the solar cell technology.
Thus, solar energy could become a key alternative to energy production that is petroleum-based. However, the current technology is far more expensive for mass-production and often the energy yield is not consistent. Moreover, the available data on the effects of the production of solar energy upon the environment also happens to be incomplete, as per experts.
For a better understanding of the environmental and energy benefits as well as the detriments towards solar power, the research team conducted life-cycle assessments for the organic solar cells. The study has found that the total energy or the embodied energy required for making a product is comparatively less for the organic solar cells than the traditional inorganic devices.
The analysis also provides for a comprehensive assessment of the volume of energy consumed for manufacturing organic solar cells that have a significant impact upon both the environment and the cost of this technology. The research team discovered that in comparison with inorganic cells, energy payback time towards the organic solar cells happened to be much lower than the inorganic cells.
Source: http://www.rit.edu/