Page 73 - RSE - Results of the Apollon Project

Results of the APolloN PRoject ANd coNceNtRAtiNg PhotovoltAic PeRsPective

materials and processes (in MJ) is calculated using Simapro’s Cumulative Energy Demand method. The carbon
footprint is a measure of the emissions of greenhouse gases (in kg of CO equivalents), using the GWP100a method
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as defned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007, effective over a period of 100 years .
The energy payback time is the amount of time, in years, that it takes a renewable energy system to generate the
same amount of energy as is used for its existence, over its lifetime. In other words, an accounting is made of the energy
it takes to construct, operate, install and dispose of the photovoltaic system. This total is then divided by the primary
equivalent of the annual electricity generation. (All energy quantities are considered in units of primary energy).
The functional unit is a 80 modules concentrator PV assembly, complete with mount and tracking system,
considered over a 30 year lifetime. The location for the installation of the PV module is Catania, and the supply
chain for the manufacture is in Europe. The data was delivered by APOLLON partners. A recent LCA calculation of
the embedded energy and greenhouse gas emissions of the Spectrolab triple junction solar cell (GaInP/GaInAs/Ge)
was referred to for the modeling of the Spectrolab GaInP/GaInAs/Ge cell used in the APOLLON prototype.

the functional unit

The functional unit is the installed 80 modules concentrator PV assembly, complete with mount and tracking
system, considered over a 30 year lifetime. The location for the installation of the PV module is Catania, and the
supply chain for the manufacture is in Europe.

Assumptions employed in the analysis

Some of the pieces for the prototype were manually fabricated (e.g. the support for receiver) but would be
commercially fabricated (e.g. extruded) if the design were commercialized. Because a comparison is desired between
the APOLLON fnal design and commercial designs, hand-machined pieces were modeled with their eventual
commercial fabrication process.
Pieces of components that are cut from sheets or extruded sections will necessarily be accompanied by some
scraps of wasted material. The maximum and minimum waste for these components was specifed, and the
minimum waste was included in the material calculations here.

Pv Concentrator Module & Associated Life Cycle inventories

The components of one APOLLON 32-cell Module are schematically shown in Figure 81. The following is a brief
description of the module layout.
The housing consists of aluminium extruded sections as frame for aluminium sheet walls on four sides. The top is
extra-clear low iron solar foat glass, mounted on an extruded aluminium frame with silicone adhesive. Steel mounting
brackets and smallware, 2-part epoxy adhesive and steel interface blocks are additional structural components.

FiguRE 81. Exploded view of APOLLON (32-cell) Module components

Cover/Housing

Brackets
Brackets

Mirrors on support
frames on base sheet
Receiver
Assembly

Extended Unit
PSD sensor
Breather Receiver
on base sheet
DC/DC
Converter Harness

37 http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/tssts-2-5.html.

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