Economic- environmental impacts of solar photovoltaics using life cycle assessment: Using a multi-tier framework

Abstract

Since the start of the new millennium, renewable energy technology has been considered harmless, clean and free in nature, on the other hand, non-renewable energy sources are considered as hostile technology. Accessibility of reliable grid electricity to the rural population in Kenya is limited and wanting, this is because population is sparsely distributed and the physical terrain is also at times not friendly to run the electricity poles. Majority of rural households in Kenya therefore do not have access to reliable grid power/electricity. With these challenges the problem to be solved would be to determine whether there are better ways of providing access to electricity to the rural population without relying on the common grid extension. Possible combinations of inventive technologies should be deliberated and be given a chance to prove their value it is on this basis this research was done. Therefore, solar based systems will find dominance due to the terrestrial challenges and the inaccessibility challenges mostly found in rural Kenya. The main objective of the research project was to investigate and determine the economic and environmental effects of Solar PV using a rural set up as a case study and quantify the same using the Multi-tier framework. The method of executing the research project involved desk reviews, experimental setup and local regulations. The economic tools for determining the economic impacts included the following: Capital Investment, LCC, PBP and ROI while for the quantification of the environmental impact, LCIA technique was applied. The LCCA analysis identified that, comparing solar PVs with grid power supply and diesel generator as a source of energy, Thus the solar PV System LCC is 14.8% of the Diesel generator LCC and variable for the utility LCC. Similarly, a comprehensive LCIA of S, U and G identified the GHG emissions of S to be lower at 5% compared to U and G at 11% and 84% respectively. The major components of the GHG emissions were also identified and quantified according to the power source. Previous researches on environmental impacts of solar PVs have focused on general GHG emissions in terms of equivalent carbon dioxide emitted and carbon dioxide avoided, this research project focused on the quantification of both the economic and environmental impacts of PV solar systems using life cycle analysis by comparing it to grid power supply (hydro-power) and diesel generator power sources and vi determined the actual positive and negative impacts in the life time of a solar system. The environmental effects where categorized into: ecosystem, social and health impacts. There is need to counter relate social, health, ecosystem, emission and resource cost effects of solar PV systems. This will help the government in policy formulation and funding. The major challenges of solar PVs disposal in Kenya were identified as: Limited information and awareness of the e-waste management regulations and weak policies follow-up. The assessment intended to improve the technical and scientific understanding of solar photovoltaic technologies both positive and negative in rural Kenya and to help support development of effective public policy, regulations and government investment decisions. The study where possible provides information on the relative quantifiable economic and environmental effects of PV solar systems in Kenya which is essential for development of sound energy policies and allocation of funds to strategic research priorities.