Environmental life-cycle assessment of building-integrated concentrating photovoltaic/thermal systems consisting of cylinders filled with dielectric fluids

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dc.contributor.authorLamnatou, Chrysovalantou
dc.contributor.authorMoreno Bellostes, Àlex
dc.contributor.authorRiverola Lacasta, Alberto
dc.contributor.authorMaestro Balaguer, Santiago
dc.contributor.authorChemisana Villegas, Daniel
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-29T10:47:11Z
dc.date.available2025-08-29T10:47:11Z
dc.date.issued2025-06-18
dc.description.abstractInnovative solar panels for building-integrated concentrating photovoltaic/thermal applications have been developed at the University of Lleida, in Spain. The modules consist of cylinders filled with deionised water or isopropyl alcohol and the solar cells are immersed in these liquids. This study aims at analysing the environmental performance of these systems using life-cycle assessment (cumulative energy demand; global warming potential), ecoinvent database/SimaPro software and ICE (inventory of carbon and energy). Considering both configurations and their additional components, the major part of the cylinders (polymethyl methacrylate), the metallic frames (stainless steel), the PV cells (mono-Si; passivated emitter and rear contact), the liquid mix/ isopropyl alcohol, the motors and the motor-support structures show the highest environmental impacts. The impact varies between 411 and 547 kg CO 2 2. eq of 80–82 kg CO 2 2. eq /m . per m . Recycling of certain materials offers an impact reduction Regarding energy and greenhouse-gas payback time, multiple scenarios have been examined (with/without recycling; cities: Barcelona, Genoa, Lisbon). The values range between 2.7 and 8.2 years, i.e. lower in comparison to system lifespan (15 years). In most scenarios, there is a difference of around one year between the water-based configuration and the one with isopropyl alcohol (the water-based option shows lower values).
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors would like to thank the Spanish MCIN for the PID2022-142601OB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and TED2021-132843 B-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 grants. D. Chemisana thanks Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) for the ICREA Acadèmia award. Chr. Lamnatou is an Associate Professor of the Serra Húnter programme. A. Moreno is a Lecturer of the Serra Húnter programme. Furthermore, this research was supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya (2021 SGR 01618). The short version of this work was presented at the ZCBE conference, 3–5 July 2024, Nottingham, UK. This work is a substantial extension of the conference paper.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123818
dc.identifier.issn0960-1481
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/468497
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relationinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica, Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/ PID2022-142601OB-I00/ES/GUIADO OPTICO Y SELECCION ESPECTRAL PARA SISTEMAS SOLARES INTEGRADOS EN EDIFICIOS/
dc.relation.isformatofReproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123818
dc.relation.ispartofRenewable Energy, 2025, vol.255, núm. 123818
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International*
dc.rightscc-by-nc, (c) Lamnatou et al., 2025
dc.rights.accessRightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/*
dc.subjectEnvironmental life cycle assessment (LCA)
dc.subjectPhotovoltaic/thermal (PVT) modules
dc.subjectLiquid-immersion-cooling systems
dc.subjectEnergy payback time (EPBT)
dc.subjectGreenhouse-gas payback time (GHG PBT)
dc.titleEnvironmental life-cycle assessment of building-integrated concentrating photovoltaic/thermal systems consisting of cylinders filled with dielectric fluids
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.type.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
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