Design of domestic photovoltaics manufacturing systems under global constraints and uncertainty

As global political discourse is taking place where the need for a cleaner energy mix is constantly highlighted, manufacturing strategies are becoming more relevant. Thus, the photovoltaics system design is a crucial aspect related with the overall sustainability. In fact, various countries are considering the potential to locally manufacture different elements of the photovoltaics (PV) value chain and the strategies to incentivize a local manufacturing base. This paper develops a mathematical programming approach for the optimal design of a PV manufacturing value chain considering diverse criteria linked to economic and environmental performance such as minimum sustainable price, transportation capacity, among others, and considering uncertainty. In addition, the proposed methodology involves the dependence over time of supply chain variables and economic parameters such as inflation, electricity cost, and weighted average cost of capital, to determine the manufacturing system topology under uncertain conditions. Our results highlight the importance of planning models to develop markets policies related to supply chains, production level changes and imposed tariffs all while involving uncertainty in economic parameters, which is an improvement compared to planning models that use deterministic formulations. Finally, the proposed methodology and results can encourage decision-making considering probable variations in different parameters

Design of domestic photovoltaics manufacturing systems under global constraints and uncertainty

As global political discourse is taking place where the need for a cleaner energy mix is constantly highlighted, manufacturing strategies are becoming more relevant. Thus, the photovoltaics system design is a crucial aspect related with the overall sustainability. In fact, various countries are considering the potential to locally manufacture different elements of the photovoltaics (PV) value chain and the strategies to incentivize a local manufacturing base. This paper develops a mathematical programming approach for the optimal design of a PV manufacturing value chain considering diverse criteria linked to economic and environmental performance such as minimum sustainable price, transportation capacity, among others, and considering uncertainty. In addition, the proposed methodology involves the dependence over time of supply chain variables and economic parameters such as inflation, electricity cost, and weighted average cost of capital, to determine the manufacturing system topology under uncertain conditions. Our results highlight the importance of planning models to develop markets policies related to supply chains, production level changes and imposed tariffs all while involving uncertainty in economic parameters, which is an improvement compared to planning models that use deterministic formulations. Finally, the proposed methodology and results can encourage decision-making considering probable variations in different parameters

Sustainable silicon photovoltaics manufacturing in a global market: A techno-economic, tariff and transportation framework

Solar photovoltaics (PV) manufacturing has experienced dramatic worldwide growth in recent years, enabling a reduction in module costs, and a higher adoption of these technologies. Continued sustainable price reductions, however, require strategies focused in further technological innovation, minimization of capital expenditures, and optimization of supply chain flows. We present a framework: Techno-economic Integrated Tool For Tariff And Transportation (TIT-4-TAT), that enables the study of these different strategies by coupling a techno-economic model with a tariff and transportation algorithm to optimize supply chain layouts for PV manufacturing under equally-weighted objectives. We demonstrate the use of this framework in a set of interacting countries (Mexico, China, USA, and Brazil) and two extreme tariff scenarios: no tariffs, and high tariff levels imposed. Results indicate that introducing tariffs between countries significantly increase the minimum sustainable price for solar PV manufacturing, alter the optimal manufacturing locations, and render a more expensive final solar PV module price which can hinder the adoption rates required to mitigate climate change. Recommendations for stakeholders on the optimization process, and techno-economic drivers are presented based on our results. This framework may be utilized by policymakers for the spatially-resolved planning of incentives, labor and manufacturing programs, and proper import tariff designs in the solar PV market

Global sustainable silicon photovoltaics manufacturing: A technoeconomic, tariff and transportation framework with an applied case for Mexico

We present a framework (TIT-4-TAT) that enables the study of manufacturing strategies by coupling a technoeconomic model with tariff and transportation algorithms to optimize supply chain layouts for PV manufacturing. We use this framework in a scenario where Mexico, China, USA, and Brazil interact under two tariffs scenarios. The optimal manufacturing locations due to tariff levels variations are highlighted through this approach

Sustainable silicon photovoltaics manufacturing in a global market: A techno-economic, tariff and transportation framework

Solar photovoltaics (PV) manufacturing has experienced dramatic worldwide growth in recent years, enabling a reduction in module costs, and a higher adoption of these technologies. Continued sustainable price reductions, however, require strategies focused in further technological innovation, minimization of capital expenditures, and optimization of supply chain flows. We present a framework: Techno-economic Integrated Tool For Tariff And Transportation (TIT-4-TAT), that enables the study of these different strategies by coupling a techno-economic model with a tariff and transportation algorithm to optimize supply chain layouts for PV manufacturing under equally-weighted objectives. We demonstrate the use of this framework in a set of interacting countries (Mexico, China, USA, and Brazil) and two extreme tariff scenarios: no tariffs, and high tariff levels imposed. Results indicate that introducing tariffs between countries significantly increase the minimum sustainable price for solar PV manufacturing, alter the optimal manufacturing locations, and render a more expensive final solar PV module price which can hinder the adoption rates required to mitigate climate change. Recommendations for stakeholders on the optimization process, and techno-economic drivers are presented based on our results. This framework may be utilized by policymakers for the spatially-resolved planning of incentives, labor and manufacturing programs, and proper import tariff designs in the solar PV market

Consideration of Environmental and Socio-economic Aspects of a Territory for Sustainable Production and Consumption in a Biorefinery Context

International audienceThe question of sustainable production and consumption is increasingly being raised in our modern society. The depletion of natural resources, the deterioration of environmental quality as well as the degradation of ecosystems and human health lead to a reconsideration of public production and consumption patterns. More attention is paid nowadays to the production and consumption of biomass-based products. Biomass represents a sustainable alternative to oil products, allowing us to obtain a wide range of different commodities and to guarantee environmental, social and economic benefits. However, in order to ensure really sustainable production and consumption, it is not enough to produce goods from biomass instead of oil. It is necessary to ensure sustainable management, starting with the choice of the sustainable biorefinery location, passing through the value and supply chains, which must guarantee minimum waste and environmental emissions, and finishing with sustainable consumption of goods. This article discusses the choice of an optimal sustainable biorefinery location, while taking into account the environmental and socio-economic characteristics of a territory. Several zones of one French region were considered for this investigation. Each zone was studied in terms of its ecological (access to water resources, …) and socio-economic (unemployment rate, …) aspects. The results of our study demonstrate which aspects are the most important when choosing the optimal sustainable location, and which of the studied zones is most suitable for the biorefinery sustainable anchoring

Design of photovoltaics-based manufacturing system using computer-aided design

Carbon dioxide has increased drastically in the last decades due to energy production, exacerbating the global warming problem. To address this issue, researchers have focused on developing energy production technologies from renewable sources. From the renewable energy sources, solar has shown great promise chiefly due to its high availability. The conversion of solar energy into electricity (photovoltaics) requires specialized equipment such as solar cells, and a coordinated supply chain to be able to manufacture this technology in a sustainable way and at low cost. Therefore, this chapter proposes an approach based on mathematical programming for the optimal design of a solar photovoltaics manufacturing system considering diverse criteria linked to economic and environmental variables such as minimum sustainable price, transportation costs, and technical limits. In addition, the dependence of the minimum sustainable price over inflation, electricity price, and weighted average capital cost is analyzed, showing that a variation of minimum sustainable price could significantly change the manufacturing supply chain topology

What to Do with Unwanted Catches: Valorisation Options and Selection Strategies

27 pages, 8 figures, 7 tables.-- This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International LicenseThe European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has established a landing obligation (LO) and the need for proper management of bycatches without incentivising their capture. Food use is the priority option but only unwanted catches (UWC) above minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) can be used for direct human consumption. As a result, other options, such as animal feeds, industrial uses or energy, should be considered to valorise landed < MCRS individuals. Two approaches have been developed to help select the best available option for processing UWC. The first methodology is based on a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) using an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) that considers technical, economic and market criteria. As a sample case, we chose the Basque fleet fishing in the Bay of Biscay, developed within the H2020 DiscardLess project. The second approach is based on the simultaneous analysis of both economic and environmental aspects. This was applied to the case of Spanish bottom trawlers operating in ICES sub-Divisions VIIIc and IXa. Finally, various food products and bio compounds from typical UWC biomass were obtained in a pilot food processing plant developed within the LIFE iSEAS projectDiscardLess project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation under grant agreement no. 633680. Life iSEAS has been co-funded under the LIFE+Environment Program of the European Union (LIFE13 ENV/ES/000131)Peer reviewe