Yildiz, G.Çalis, B.Gürel, A.E.Ceylan, I.2024-09-292024-09-2920202215-1532https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2020.100343https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14619/9585The importance of energy increases in human life with the development of technology. However, most of the world's energy needs are still met by fossil fuels. The interest in renewable energy is increasing due to the increase in demand for fossil fuels, their limitedness, and environmental damage. Solar energy, which is an unlimited and clean energy source, is among the most popular renewable energy sources. Solar energy is used by processes such as heating and electricity generation. In this study, the emission amount of polycrystalline and cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) panels to the environment during the life cycle were compared. During the life cycle, the amount of emission released to the environment during the production, recycling, and electricity generation of the panel was determined. In addition, energy payback times of these two PV types were calculated. The emission amount for both of 1 m2 polycrystalline and CdTe PV panel throughout the life cycle was determined to be 201.4 and 115.04 kg?CO2, respectively. Besides, the average energy payback period of the polycrystalline panel is 0.92 years, while it is 0.57 years for the CdTe panel. In addition, the emission amount of the solar panel and the natural gas-powered thermal power plant known as a clean energy source were compared. As a result, a huge difference was observed between the emission amount released by the PV panel to the environment and the emission released as a result of the energy produced by the thermal power plant under the same conditions during its 17-year lifetime. PV panel saves 1.72 tons of CO2 emissions compared to the thermal power plant, and so PV panels appear to be 9.52 times more environmentally friendly. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessCadmium telluride (CdTe)EmissionEnergy payback timeLife cyclePolycrystallineInvestigation of life cycle CO2 emissions of the polycrystalline and cadmium telluride PV panelsArticle10.1016/j.enmm.2020.1003432-s2.0-85087972314Q114