Patrizio Manganiello is Associate Professor and researcher in photovoltaic energy systems at Hasselt University, imec and EnergyVille, Belgium. His expertise covers PV technology, electronics for photovoltaics and system-level analysis, with a focus on modelling, monitoring, reliability and sustainability. His work aims to understand and improve solar energy systems, from device-level behaviour to system design and operation – including power converters and innovative system architectures. He is active in research, education and knowledge transfer on photovoltaic systems, with a particular interest in how advanced monitoring, data analysis, life-cycle thinking and emerging photovoltaic technologies can support the energy transition.
Lecture: Life Cycle Assessment of Photovoltaic systems
Photovoltaic systems produce electricity without direct emissions during operation, but their full environmental performance depends on materials, manufacturing, transport, installation, operation, maintenance, storage and end-of-life. This lecture introduces Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a method to quantify these impacts and to move beyond simplified claims about the environmental impact of solar energy. Through PV-specific examples, students will explore carbon footprint per kWh, energy payback time, functional units, system boundaries, and the influence of location, lifetime, degradation, manufacturing choices and batteries. The lecture shows how LCA can guide more sustainable PV design, operation, recycling and energy-transition decisions.