Photovoltaic Systems and Sustainability
Research Guide

Ellabban et al. (2014) in "Renewable energy resources: Current status, future prospects and their enabling technology" outline the present deployment levels and technological enablers for renewables like PV. The paper highlights barriers such as intermittency and the need for storage integration. It projects growth driven by policy support and cost reductions, with PV playing a central role in sustainable energy mixes.

Jordan and Kurtz (2011) in "Photovoltaic Degradation Rates—an Analytical Review" report that flat-plate terrestrial PV modules exhibit linear degradation rates of about 0.5% to 1% per year. These rates vary by technology, with crystalline silicon showing lower degradation than thin-film types. Accurate knowledge of these rates is essential for forecasting long-term power output and return on investment.

Wadia, Alivisatos, and Kammen (2009) in "Materials Availability Expands the Opportunity for Large-Scale Photovoltaics Deployment" analyze supply chains for PV materials. They find that primary mining of copper, zinc, and silicon can support 10-100 TW of PV capacity at costs below $1/W. Secondary materials and recycling further expand opportunities for sustainable scaling.

Hegedus and Luque in "Handbook of photovoltaic science and engineering" (2011) detail PV market growth, cost declines, and technology trends in their chapter "Achievements and Challenges of Solar Electricity from Photovoltaics". Challenges include efficiency limits and grid integration. The handbook covers diverse PV technologies and their engineering principles.

Soto, Klein, and Beckman (2005) in "Improvement and validation of a model for photovoltaic array performance" present a validated model accounting for temperature, irradiance, and mismatch effects. The model improves predictions of array output under real conditions compared to single-diode equivalents. Validation used experimental data from diverse climates.

A recent preprint "A novel holistic metric for sustainability assessment of photovoltaic/battery systems" (2025) proposes metrics evaluating PV-battery systems across climatic regions in support of SDG 7. It integrates energy output, lifecycle emissions, and resource use. These metrics aid in comparing system sustainability directly.