Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases

Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: Photovoltaic Cell Manufacturing

Key Points

The global abatement potential in the photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing sector ranges from less than 0.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) to 1.7 MtCO₂e in 2030.
Reduction technologies include technologies that reduce fluorinated greenhouse gas (F-GHG) emissions through etch and/or chamber cleaning processes.
The high costs of emissions reduction technologies combined with low emissions reductions lead to abatement costs greater than $200/tCO₂e.

Sector Description

The PV cell manufacturing process often uses multiple F-GHGs during production, some of which are released into the atmosphere. Baseline emissions were estimated at 2.3 MtCO₂e in 2010. A reduction in baseline emissions is anticipated in both 2020 and 2030, declining to an estimated 2.1 MtCO₂e and 1.9 MtCO₂e, respectively.

2030 emissions from photovoltaic cell manufacturing are projected to be 2 million MtCO2e, or 0.01% of total non-CO2 emissions. The projected 2030 top five emitting countries for this sector are China, Japan, Germany, Malaysia, & South Korea. View or download the full-size image here.(123 K, PNG)

Emissions Reduction Potential

Assuming full implementation of current technology, emissions in the PV cell manufacturing sector could be reduced by up to 2 MtCO₂e in 2030. This accounts for 0.04% of the 4,615 MtCO₂e in global reduction potential in 2030.

Potential for fluorinated GHGs reductions from photovoltaic cell manufacturing: With full implementation of current technology, 2030 emissions could be reduced by up to 2 MtCO2e, or 0.04% of the 4,615 MtCO2e in global reduction potential for non-CO2 GHGs. View or download the full-size image here.(99 K, PNG)

Abatement Potential

The global abatement potential in the PV manufacturing sector is estimated to be 1.9 MtCO₂e in 2020 and 1.7 MtCO₂e in 2030, or 90% of baseline emissions in each year. High capital costs and low emissions reductions associated with the available abatement measures result in abatement costs greater than $200/tCO₂e. No statistically significant emissions reductions are available at abatement costs below $200.

2030 baseline projected global fluorinated GHG emissions from photovoltaic cell manufacturing: It would be cost-effective to reduce emissions by 0% compared to the baseline. An additional 90% reduction is available with increasingly higher costs. It would be cost-effective to reduce emissions by 0%, compared to the baseline, in 2030. An additional 90% reduction is available using technologies with increasingly higher costs.

View or download the full-size image here.(37 K, PNG)

Abatement Measures

Abatement measures considered for reducing F-GHG emissions from the PV manufacturing sector include thermal abatement systems, catalytic abatement systems, plasma abatement systems, and the nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) remote chamber clean process. These technologies have the potential to reduce emissions from etch and/or chamber clean processes by 90%.

Achievable reductions in photovoltaic cell manufacturing fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions, by technology, in 2030. Solid bars show reductions achievable at a cost less than $0/tCO2e, and fading bars show the reductions achievable at a higher prices. Emissions reductions by technology in 2030 at $0/tCO₂e and at higher prices.

View or download the full-size image here.(40 K, PNG)

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