『Abstract
China and India are embarking on ambitious initiatives over the
next decade to expand solar photovoltaic (PV) power in undrserved
regions. China proposes adding 1.6 GW of solar capacity by 2020,
while India plans 12 GW in addition to 20 million solar lanterns
by 2022. These technologies rely heavily on lead-acid batteries
(LABs) for storage. China and India's lead mining, battery production,
and recycling industries are relatively inefficient - 33% and
22% environmental loss rates, respectively. Based on the quantity
of lead batteries employed in existing PV systems, we estimate
environmental lead emissions in China and India for new units
installed under their solar energy goals. The average loss rates
are 12 kg (China) and 8.5 kg (India) of lead loss per kW-year
of installed PV capacity in these countries. The planned systems
added in China and India will be responsible for 386 and 2030
kt of environmental lead loss, respectively, over their lifespan
- equal to 1/3 of global lead production in 2009. Investments
in environmental controls in lead smelting, battery manufacturing,
and recycling industries along with improvements in battery take-back
policies should complement deployment of solar PV systems to mitigate
negative impacts of lead pollution.
keywords: Lead battery; Solar photovoltaic; Solar lantern』
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Results - LAB demand and emissions
3.1. China
3.2. India
3.3. Implications of lead poisoning
4. Discussion
4.1. Alternative future scenarios
4.2. Cumulative loss estimate scenarios
5. Conclusion
Acknowledgment
References