Environmental performance of a 1 MW photovoltaic plant in the Atacama Desert: A life cycle assessment study

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are a viable solution for reducing environmental impact and supporting decarbonization efforts, though their impact varies significantly with installation location. This study examines the primary energy consumption and environmental performance of a 1 MW grid-connected PV plant located in the Atacama Desert, Chile, using a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) according to ISO 14040 and 14,044 standards. The functional unit is defined as the production and delivery of 1 kWh of electricity at medium voltage to the national grid over a 30-year lifetime. The ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method was applied covering 17 environmental impact indicators. The Atacama Desert’s unique conditions include high annual global horizontal irradiance values (>2600 kWh/m²), a module degradation factor of 1.5 % per year, accelerated wear on components like inverters, civil works adapted to saline and corrosive soils, long transport distances, and limited water resources. The inventory models predominantly utilized primary data, including in-situ measurements and operational experiences from a locally operated facility. Results show that PV energy outperforms the Chilean national grid in all impact categories except Mineral Resource Scarcity, due to the strategic materials used in PV module manufacturing. Climate Change impact and Energy Payback Time were 33.1 g CO₂-eq/kWh and 1.18 years, respectively. Operation and Maintenance activities, often underestimated in LCA studies, were found to be relevant, contributing 10–25 % of the environmental impacts due to accelerated components replacement. Relative impacts can vary by up to 30 % depending on solar irradiation levels across different locations in the Atacama Desert. In conclusion, the increasing adoption of PV solar power generation presents a promising, environmentally friendly, and competitive alternative for Chile. Future research should explore utility-scale PV systems with varied configurations and components to better understand their environmental impacts.