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In recent years, the introduction of renewable energies, especially solar power, has been promoted worldwide for the purpose of decarbonization in order to solve the climate change problem. However, it has also been pointed out that solar power plants will emit a large amount of waste such as panels and modules in the future, as their 30-year lifespan will lead to their disposal in the future. In addition, there are monocrystalline silicon (Si) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) type solar panels, both of which use chemicals and need to be disposed of properly. Against this background, it is predicted that there may be a trade-off whereby technologies and products introduced for the purpose of low-carbon emissions result in increased waste emissions. In particular, the Japanese government has set ambitious renewable energy adoption targets, and the introduction of solar power plants in the future could cause environmental problems. This study therefore analyzes how much greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are mitigated and how much chemical emissions are increased over the life cycle of photovoltaic (PV) plants, which are being promoted for installation in Japan, compared to existing coal-fired power plants. The life cycle of PV was assumed to be a case of manufacturing in China, marine transport by ship, operation and management (O&M) in Japan and then recycling in Japan. In order to quantitatively compare and evaluate the impact of emitted GHGs and chemicals, their impacts were converted to disability-adjusted life years (DALY), the human health impact, using the life cycle assessment methodology. In short, this study proposes a method to quantitatively and comparatively assess the risk of waste emissions that may occur as a trade-off for the implementation of low-carbon technologies in response to climate change. This study also highlights that the human health impacts of GHGs and chemicals are highly biased (100.9–113.0%) toward manufacturing in the life cycle of PV plants. In other words, this study suggests that the manufacturer and the country of manufacture may be suffering losses, while users of the product may reap the benefits of low carbon during the O&M period.

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Trade-Off Analysis Between CO2 Reduction and Waste Increase Associated with Solar Photovoltaic Installations

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Shota Nogaki,
  • Lisa Ito,
  • Akihiro Tokai

摘要

In recent years, the introduction of renewable energies, especially solar power, has been promoted worldwide for the purpose of decarbonization in order to solve the climate change problem. However, it has also been pointed out that solar power plants will emit a large amount of waste such as panels and modules in the future, as their 30-year lifespan will lead to their disposal in the future. In addition, there are monocrystalline silicon (Si) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) type solar panels, both of which use chemicals and need to be disposed of properly. Against this background, it is predicted that there may be a trade-off whereby technologies and products introduced for the purpose of low-carbon emissions result in increased waste emissions. In particular, the Japanese government has set ambitious renewable energy adoption targets, and the introduction of solar power plants in the future could cause environmental problems. This study therefore analyzes how much greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are mitigated and how much chemical emissions are increased over the life cycle of photovoltaic (PV) plants, which are being promoted for installation in Japan, compared to existing coal-fired power plants. The life cycle of PV was assumed to be a case of manufacturing in China, marine transport by ship, operation and management (O&M) in Japan and then recycling in Japan. In order to quantitatively compare and evaluate the impact of emitted GHGs and chemicals, their impacts were converted to disability-adjusted life years (DALY), the human health impact, using the life cycle assessment methodology. In short, this study proposes a method to quantitatively and comparatively assess the risk of waste emissions that may occur as a trade-off for the implementation of low-carbon technologies in response to climate change. This study also highlights that the human health impacts of GHGs and chemicals are highly biased (100.9–113.0%) toward manufacturing in the life cycle of PV plants. In other words, this study suggests that the manufacturer and the country of manufacture may be suffering losses, while users of the product may reap the benefits of low carbon during the O&M period.