Warwick professor involved in ground-breaking solar panel study

A new study led by multiple UK universities has revealed that shifting to advanced solar manufacturing could cut global carbon emissions by 8.2 billion tonnes by 2035.

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The international study, conducted by researchers from the University of Warwick, Northumbria University, the University of Birmingham, and Oxford Universities, used life-cycle assessment modelling to discover that newer Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) solar panels provide lower carbon emissions than the traditional means of production.

By combining the new TOPCon model with manufacturing improvements and grid decarbonisation, the study suggests that solar manufacturing emissions could eliminate around 14% of current global annual emissions.

Our paper shows how targeted improvements across the supply chain can deliver sustainable manufacturing at the terawatt-scale

Dr Nicholas Grant

It was also shown that the TOPCon model had a lower environment impact than the Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) in 15 out of the total 16 categories used to track environmental impact. One of the ways this will be achieved is by creating a 6.5% reduction in climate-changing emissions per unit of electrical capacity.

The study further suggested that the location for future solar panel manufacturing should be considered. By using the low-carbon electricity available in Europe, emissions would be significantly lower than if solar panels are manufactured in other areas.

Further quantitative data in the study revealed that solar panels installed between 2023 and 2035 are projected to avoid at least 25 gigatonnes of carbon emissions, because they create solar power rather than using fossil fuels.

Dr Nicholas Grant, Associate Professor at the University of Warwick and one of the people involved in the study, said: “Our paper shows how targeted improvements across the supply chain can deliver sustainable manufacturing at the terawatt-scale, avoiding twenty-five gigatonnes of manufacturing related CO₂ emissions if installed by 2035, while supporting rapid global deployment.”

Solar photovoltaics remains one of the lowest-impact and most sustainable electricity generation technologies available over its whole life cycle and we should concentrate on deploying it at scale, now

Neil Beattie

Sebastian Bonilla, Associate Professor of Materials Science at the University of Oxford and co-author of the study, recognised the importance of this study in wider attempts to tackling climate change. He noted: “this work uniquely identifies the environmental impacts of the ongoing solar energy revolution, helping us guide the choices of materials, technologies, and manufacturing locations that will minimise harm while maximising the benefits of terawatt green electricity.”

Senior author Professor Neil Beattie of Northumbria University further emphasised the necessity of solar panels in the future: ​“This is especially important as our demand for electricity soars over the next decade driven by applications in transport, heating, and digital infrastructure for AI.

“Solar photovoltaics remains one of the lowest-impact and most sustainable electricity generation technologies available over its whole life cycle and we should concentrate on deploying it at scale, now.”