The photovoltaic (PV) sector has been experiencing significant international growth and evolution for years, with a wide range of technologies now available on the market. For the Italian energy sector, which aims to be environmentally and economically sustainable in the context of ecological transition, it is crucial to evaluate and compare the environmental profiles of different photovoltaic generation technologies. Among the emerging high-efficiency technologies is PERC technology. PERC modules are made with monocrystalline silicon cells featuring a passivated rear layer that reflects and recovers light not absorbed by the cell, allowing for the capture of electrons and converting a greater amount of solar energy into electricity.
This work assesses the potential environmental impacts associated with PERC technology using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and compares them with those previously obtained for HJT technology. So far, the limited number of published LCA studies on PERC technology mostly use inventory data from literature and are poorly adaptable to the Italian context due to solar radiation levels. This study helps address these gaps by presenting an LCA of a hypothetical 84.7 MW PV plant with PERC modules. Specifically, three possible configurations are analyzed:

i) Modules mounted on a single-axis solar tracker;

ii) Modules installed on a fixed structure;

iii) An agrivoltaic system integrating electrical production from a fixed-structure PV plant with agricultural cultivation. Additionally, two potential installation sites are considered: Catania and Piacenza.

For the three configurations analyzed, the estimated greenhouse gas emissions are: 12.1 g CO2 eq./kWh, 14.7 g CO2 eq./kWh, and 16.7 g CO2 eq./kWh for the plant installed in Catania. These values are comparable but higher (+23%) than those estimated for HJT technology. The agrivoltaic system, due to the larger support structures for the modules, is environmentally disadvantaged except for the land use category. Finally, the study reveals that sites with higher solar resource availability have lower environmental impacts per unit of energy produced.