Energy Return on Energy Invested (ERoEI) for photovoltaic solar systems in regions of moderate insolation
Energy Policy, (2016)DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.03.034
Abstract
Abstract Many people believe renewable energy sources to be capable of substituting fossil or nuclear energy. However there exist very few scientifically sound studies, which apply due diligence to substantiating this impression. In the present paper, the case of photovoltaic power sources in regions of moderate insolation is analysed critically by using the concept of Energy Return on Energy Invested (ERoEI, also called EROI). But the methodology for calculating the \\ERoEI\\ differs greatly from author-to-author. The main differences between solar \\PV\\ Systems are between the current \\ERoEI\\ and what is called the extended \\ERoEI\\ (ERoEI EXT). The current methodology recommended by the International Energy Agency is not strictly applicable for comparing photovoltaic (PV) power generation with other systems. The main reasons are due to the fact that on one hand, solar electricity is very material-intensive, labour-intensive and capital-intensive and on the other hand the solar radiation exhibits a rather low power density.