Life cycle assessment of cadmium telluride photovoltaic (CdTe PV) systems

The CdTe PV systems presently have a GWP of 15.1 g CO2 equivalent/kW h in Malaysia. The CdTe PV panel is the greatest contributor to global warming potential in the system, accounting for 47.8%. Electricity used in the semiconductor deposition process is the major contributor of GWP in CdTe PV panel. Total fossil fuel consumption is 0.221 MJ/kW h. The CdTe PV panel accounts for 49.3% of the total fossil fuel consumption. Energy payback time and CO2 payback time are 0.94 years and 0.76 years, respectively, and those are relatively short periods compared with other PV power plants. The energy return on investment of the CdTe PV system was found to be superior to other Si-based PV systems.