Life cycle assessment of solar PV water pumping system for carbon emissions reduction at a location: a case study

ABSTRACT

The design of water supply systems powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are installed for irrigation and other allied applications at remote rural areas which lack proper on-grid power systems. These systems have been operating successfully for several decades at locations receiving ample solar radiation, assisting in the reduction of carbon emissions. Hybrid life cycle assessment was performed in this study to determine the carbon emissions for a solar PV water pumping system (SPVWPS) in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia. The carbon emission (g/mm³) produced by 1 m³ of water raised by 1 m was used as a reference in this assessment. The present analysis estimates the net CO₂ emissions generated during the stages of production, transportation, construction, operation, maintenance, and recycling of SPVWPS. The results from SPVWPS were compared with CO₂ emissions from diesel operated pumping systems. It was discovered that the carbon emission intensity produced during the 25-year operation period of SPVWPS was 0.80 g/mm³. The major CO₂ emissions of SPVWPS were generated during the manufacturing stage totaled 2.02t, accounting for 55.19% of total emissions. When compared to the mobile diesel-powered water supply project, the CO₂ emission intensity from SWPS was found to be about 0.55 times lower by about 1.46 g/mm³. As a result, the rapid development of SPVWPS in rural and pastoral areas represents the realization of rural low-carbon transformation and development, as well as the achievement of China’s “double carbon” reduction targets by 2050.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar water supply project
• life cycle assessment
• carbon emission
• energy savings and emission reduction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

Liang Cao performed the data analysis; Jun-Feng Zhu performed the formal analysis; Shi-Feng Wang helped perform the analysis with constructive discussions. Xing-Tian Wang wrote the manuscript; Wei Hu performed the validation.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Central Funds to guide local science and technology development of China (nos. 2021ZY0030)

Notes on contributors

Liang Cao

Liang Cao is currently working as senior engineer in the Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources. He received Master’s Degree in Hydraulic and Hydropower Engineering from Hohai University, NanJing, China. His current research interests include Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction, The Coupling of Renewable Energy And Water Conservancy.

Shifeng Wang

Shifeng Wang is currently working as senior engineer in the Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources. Received a Master’s degree in Energy and Power Engineering from Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Inner Mongolia, China. His current research directions include clean energy utilization and pastoral water supply.

Junfeng Zhu

Junfeng Zhu is currently working as senior engineer in the Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources. He received Master’s Degree in Control Theory and Control Engineering from Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China. His current research interests include Photovoltaic Systems and Distributed Generation, Power system optimization.

Xingtian Wang

Xingtian Wang currently holds a position of engineer of Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources, China with emphasis in Water Treatment Engineering.

Wei Hu

Wei Hu is currently working as engineer in the Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources. He received Master’s Degre in Hydraulics and River Dynamics from Xi’an University of Technology , Xi’an, China. His current research interests include Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction, The Coupling of Renewable Energy And Water Conservancy.