Deploying solar photovoltaic energy first in carbon-intensive regions brings gigatons more carbon mitigations to 2060

Shi Chen; Xi Lu; Chris P. Nielsen; Michael B. McElroy; Gang He; Shaohui Zhang; Kebin He; Xiu Yang; Fang Zhang; Jiming Hao

doi:10.1038/s43247-023-01006-x

Deploying solar photovoltaic energy first in carbon-intensive regions brings gigatons more carbon mitigations to 2060

Shi Chen
, Xi Lu^*
, Chris P. Nielsen
, Michael B. McElroy^*
, Gang He
, Shaohui Zhang
, Kebin He
, Xiu Yang
, Fang Zhang
, Jiming Hao

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Economics and Management

Tsinghua University
Harvard University
City University of New York
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

The global surge in solar photovoltaic (PV) power has featured spatial specialization from manufacturing to installation along its industrial chain. Yet how to improve PV climate benefits are under-investigated. Here we explore the evolution of net greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation of PV industry from 2009–2060 with a spatialized-dynamic life-cycle-analysis. Results suggest a net GHG mitigation of 1.29 Gt CO₂-equivalent from 2009–2019, achieved by 1.97 Gt of mitigation from installation minus 0.68 Gt of emissions from manufacturing. The highest net GHG mitigation among future manufacturing-installation-scenarios to meet 40% global power demand in 2060 is as high as 204.7 Gt from 2020–2060, featuring manufacturing concentrated in Europe and North America and prioritized PV installations in carbon-intensive nations. This represents 97.5 Gt more net mitigation than the worst-case scenario, equivalent to 1.9 times 2020 global GHG emissions. The results call for strategic international coordination of PV industrial chain to increase GHG net mitigation.

Original language	English
Article number	369
Journal	Communications Earth and Environment
Volume	4
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01006-x
State	Published - Dec 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action

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10.1038/s43247-023-01006-x

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title = "Deploying solar photovoltaic energy first in carbon-intensive regions brings gigatons more carbon mitigations to 2060",

abstract = "The global surge in solar photovoltaic (PV) power has featured spatial specialization from manufacturing to installation along its industrial chain. Yet how to improve PV climate benefits are under-investigated. Here we explore the evolution of net greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation of PV industry from 2009–2060 with a spatialized-dynamic life-cycle-analysis. Results suggest a net GHG mitigation of 1.29 Gt CO2-equivalent from 2009–2019, achieved by 1.97 Gt of mitigation from installation minus 0.68 Gt of emissions from manufacturing. The highest net GHG mitigation among future manufacturing-installation-scenarios to meet 40\% global power demand in 2060 is as high as 204.7 Gt from 2020–2060, featuring manufacturing concentrated in Europe and North America and prioritized PV installations in carbon-intensive nations. This represents 97.5 Gt more net mitigation than the worst-case scenario, equivalent to 1.9 times 2020 global GHG emissions. The results call for strategic international coordination of PV industrial chain to increase GHG net mitigation.",

author = "Shi Chen and Xi Lu and Nielsen, \{Chris P.\} and McElroy, \{Michael B.\} and Gang He and Shaohui Zhang and Kebin He and Xiu Yang and Fang Zhang and Jiming Hao",

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doi = "10.1038/s43247-023-01006-x",

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T1 - Deploying solar photovoltaic energy first in carbon-intensive regions brings gigatons more carbon mitigations to 2060

AU - Chen, Shi

AU - Lu, Xi

AU - Nielsen, Chris P.

AU - McElroy, Michael B.

AU - He, Gang

AU - Zhang, Shaohui

AU - He, Kebin

AU - Yang, Xiu

AU - Zhang, Fang

AU - Hao, Jiming

PY - 2023/12

Y1 - 2023/12

N2 - The global surge in solar photovoltaic (PV) power has featured spatial specialization from manufacturing to installation along its industrial chain. Yet how to improve PV climate benefits are under-investigated. Here we explore the evolution of net greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation of PV industry from 2009–2060 with a spatialized-dynamic life-cycle-analysis. Results suggest a net GHG mitigation of 1.29 Gt CO2-equivalent from 2009–2019, achieved by 1.97 Gt of mitigation from installation minus 0.68 Gt of emissions from manufacturing. The highest net GHG mitigation among future manufacturing-installation-scenarios to meet 40% global power demand in 2060 is as high as 204.7 Gt from 2020–2060, featuring manufacturing concentrated in Europe and North America and prioritized PV installations in carbon-intensive nations. This represents 97.5 Gt more net mitigation than the worst-case scenario, equivalent to 1.9 times 2020 global GHG emissions. The results call for strategic international coordination of PV industrial chain to increase GHG net mitigation.

AB - The global surge in solar photovoltaic (PV) power has featured spatial specialization from manufacturing to installation along its industrial chain. Yet how to improve PV climate benefits are under-investigated. Here we explore the evolution of net greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation of PV industry from 2009–2060 with a spatialized-dynamic life-cycle-analysis. Results suggest a net GHG mitigation of 1.29 Gt CO2-equivalent from 2009–2019, achieved by 1.97 Gt of mitigation from installation minus 0.68 Gt of emissions from manufacturing. The highest net GHG mitigation among future manufacturing-installation-scenarios to meet 40% global power demand in 2060 is as high as 204.7 Gt from 2020–2060, featuring manufacturing concentrated in Europe and North America and prioritized PV installations in carbon-intensive nations. This represents 97.5 Gt more net mitigation than the worst-case scenario, equivalent to 1.9 times 2020 global GHG emissions. The results call for strategic international coordination of PV industrial chain to increase GHG net mitigation.

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DO - 10.1038/s43247-023-01006-x

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JO - Communications Earth and Environment

JF - Communications Earth and Environment

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ER -

Deploying solar photovoltaic energy first in carbon-intensive regions brings gigatons more carbon mitigations to 2060

Abstract

UN SDGs

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