Understanding the CO2 Footprint of PV Installations

Understanding the CO2 Footprint of PV Installations

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Last edit made by Helen Mengs on 2023-08-23. This is a wiki, do not hesitate to update information by clicking on "Edit with form".

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Key Data

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Organisation

Antenna Foundation

Duration

March 2022 - June 2023

Project Description

The Swiss Antenna Foundation (AF) project aims to create a basis for CO2 analysis of off-grid systems with a view to also be able to participate in the Voluntary Carbon Market. For this purpose, data of a mini-grid is collected and a model for the evaluation of the lifetime and the (saved) CO2 emissions developed. With the help of a case study, this model is subsequently tested and compared with existing models. In order to be able to generate emission certificates with PV applications, both the buyers of the certificates and the investors need to know how much CO2 savings the installed systems can generate compared to conventional power supply, for example compared to diesel generators or hydropower plants. Therefore, AF pursues several goals with its project, which logically build on each other.In the first step, the project records the emissions of the different power sources. Based on these calculations, it is possible to calculate the carbon footprint of PV projects. The project develops a practicable model for local partners in the second step and proves its functionality in practice in the third step. Therefore a case study is realised and at least ten technicians are trained. This will encourage local partners to carry out this CO2 analysis automatically for each PV system. In the next step, AF determines for its own energy projects to what extent it can use the method to generate official and voluntary emission certificates and sell them on the market. AF will make all the results of the project accessible after the project has ended, so that the methods and effects can be shared.

So far, the ecological footprint of the replacing system has rarely played a role in the CO2 certification of solar technology, neither has the assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of various components. There are thus two levels of innovation present. The first is a holistic calcula�tion model to make the CO2 savings visible compared to a baseline. And the second being that project developers can assess the carbon footprint of individual components within a system to select the best items based on a CO2 assessment.

GBE Component

Small Projects Fund

Categories

• Mini-grids

Factsheet

Location

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Country SPF

Cameroon

Geographic coordinates of project site

3° 52' 8.36" N, 11° 31' 16.79" E

Latitude            Longitude

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• Understanding the CO2 Footprint of PV Installations

• Mini-grids