Photovoltaic (PV) modules through the life cycle – Environmental health and safety (EH&S) risk assessment – General principles and nomenclature (Edition 1.0)
This document specifies definitions of terms and introduces evaluation methods for EHS risk assessment for the PV module over the product life cycle. Environmental health and safety (EHS) risk assessment is a method to characterize and evaluate potential adverse impacts to human health or environment and make it possible to take measures to reduce them. EHS risk assessment of PV modules is very important for the safe and sustainable manufacture@ use@ and end of life treatment of PV modules. The definition of terms can be applied to the EHS risk assessment through the life cycle of PV modules. Generally@ evaluation methods for the EHS risk assessment can be divided in two cases: ? ordinary foreseen routine operation@ in which life cycle assessment method is applied; ? abnormal non-routine operation@ in which risk assessment method is applied. The scope of the two general cases is described below. When assessing the environmental impacts of routine operation of PV electricity production with life cycle assessment@ the product system includes the manufacturing phase@ the use phase and the end of life phase (see Figure 1). Electronic installation@ mounting structure and power conversion equipment (such as inverters) are included as part of the PV system to be analysed. When assessing the risk of non-routine operation of PV modules@ the system analysed is limited to the PV module@ its supply chain@ operation and end of life treatment@ and its direct electrical and mechanical interfaces with the balance of system@ i.e. the electric installation@ mounting structure and inverters.