1 Scope
This document specifies definitions of terms and introduces evaluation methods for
EH&S risk assessment for the PV module over the product life cycle. Environmental health and
safety (EH&S) risk assessment is a method to characterize and evaluate potential adverse impacts to
human health or environment and make it possible to take measures to reduce them.
EH&S risk assessment of PV modules is very important for the safe and sustainable manufacture,
use, and end of life treatment of PV modules. The definition of terms can be applied
to the EH&S risk assessment through the life cycle of PV modules. Generally, evaluation methods for
the EH&S risk assessment can be divided in two cases:
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• ordinary foreseen routine operation, in which life cycle assessment method is applied;
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• abnormal non-routine operation, in which risk assessment method is applied.The scope of the two general cases is described below.
When assessing the environmental impacts of routine operation of PV electricity production
with life cycle assessment, the product system includes the manufacturing phase, the
use phase and the end of life phase (see Figure 1). Electronic installation, mounting structure and power conversion equipment (such
as inverters) are included as part of the PV system to be analysed.
When assessing the risk of non-routine operation of PV modules, the system analysed is limited to the PV
module, its supply chain, operation and end of life treatment, and its direct electrical
and mechanical interfaces with the balance of system, i.e. the electric installation,
mounting structure and inverters.
Processes of the foreground and background system are marked with blue and red colour,
respectively (lighter coloured line and darker coloured line respectively for monochrome
printed version).
