Details

The accelerating pace of global climate change, driven primarily by fossil fuel combustion, has necessitated a rapid transition to renewable energy sources. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has emerged as the fastest-growing clean energy source, with global installed capacity exceeding 2.2 TW by the end of 2024. However, while PV systems generate electricity without emissions during operation, significant environmental impacts occur during manufacturing and end-of-life stages. This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of using innovative photovoltaic module technologies in civil engineering projects through a multi-criteria approach encompassing energy, environmental, and economic efficiency. The study first classifies PV technologies by generation, connection type, and deployment typology, then reviews Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology based on ISO 14040/14044 and IEA PVPS Task 12 guidelines. Four innovative PV modules are selected for comparative assessment: TW Solar TOPCon (baseline reference), AIKO Gen 3 ABC (All-Back Contact, silver-free), GCL Perovskite-Silicon Tandem (emerging tandem technology), and LONGi Hi-MO 9 (HJT). Material-based emission calculations are performed to quantify manufacturing-phase CO₂ and SO₂ emissions for each module. The methodology is then applied to a case study: a restaurant building in Latakia, Syria, where 447 m² of active PV surfaces are assessed for energy yield, avoided emissions, and levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The GCL Perovskite-Silicon Tandem achieves both the lowest total CO₂ per module (133.8 kg) and the lowest specific CO₂ emissions of all four panels (0.247 kg CO₂/Wp — a 53% reduction compared to TOPCon), based on an estimated rated power of ~541 Wp derived from the confirmed mass-production efficiency of 27.06%. LONGi HJT achieves the second-lowest specific CO₂ emissions (0.429 kg CO₂/Wp), representing an 18% reduction compared to TOPCon. All systems repay their manufacturing-phase carbon debt within 4–6 months of operation in Latakias high-irradiation, fossil-dependent grid context. LCOE values range from 0.0099 to 0.0154 USD/kWh, significantly undercutting local commercial tariffs. The thesis provides the first publicly available LCA emission estimates for the AIKO Gen 3 ABC and GCL Perovskite-Silicon Tandem modules, filling a critical gap in the literature and demonstrating that innovative PV technologies offer measurable environmental and economic advantages for civil engineering applications.