FAQ

With regard to cells made of silicon, which are by far the most widely used on the Luxembourg market, current production techniques do not require the use of any substances that are harmful to the environment.

Thin-film cells use elements such as cadmium or tellurium. The quantities used for the production of related modules are, however, minimal, especially for cells composed of cadmium telluride, known as CdTe. CdTe has low toxicity and the environmental consequences are considered negligible compared to the impact that could be caused by other means of electricity generation.

The environmental impact is taken into account over the entire life cycle. Thus, environmental effects (such as the impact on climate change, the extraction of minerals, toxicity for human beings, etc.) are taken into consideration during the production and operation of the photovoltaic installation, including the savings made due to the energy produced during its life cycle.

Even if we consider that the production of certain photovoltaic panels requires scarce resources and hazardous materials, the environmental impact throughout their life cycle is less than that caused by the national or European electricity mix. This overall impact can be further reduced by recycling end-of-life panels or by refurbishing used panels for reuse in a second life.

The amortisation period defines the time it takes for a photovoltaic system to produce the same amount of energy as that required for its manufacture. This is achieved by dividing the energy consumed in the production of the module by the annual energy output of the module.

In general, the amortisation period for the types of panels currently available on the market is less than two years in Central Europe. Thus, cells made of silicon, by far the most widely used on the Luxembourg market, have an amortisation period of less than two years; for thin-film cells, which are currently emerging on the market, this goes down to less than one year.