Comparison of Energy Performance Metrics of Photovoltaics Using IPAT Sustainability Model

Abstract

Energy security is an imminent problem since natural crude oil resources seem to have maintained a production peak in most recent years, inclusive of expected further discoveries. It is therefore imperative that, alternative energy sources contribute to existing grid. Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which have also risen as a consequent of fossil sources need to be checked to curtail their negative externality. In this work, IPAT (I = P x A x T) is used as an investigation tool for photovoltaic prone solution to energy crisis, owing to its pragmatism and uncomplicatedness. This is in with a view of providing some insights or circumventing environmental hazards resulting from the use of toxic materials in the process of manufacturing photovoltaic technology.