An excerpt from a 2016 study by Swiss scientists (Return on Energy Invested (ERoEI) for photovoltaic solar systems in regions with moderate insolation), in which they summarized the experience of European Union countries in the use of solar energy.
7. Conclusion and policy implications
The calculated value for ERoEI is dimensionless, constituting the energy return (2203 kW he/m2) divided by the energy invested (2664 kW he/m2) – a ratio of 0.82. It is estimated that these numbers could have an error of ±15%, so that, despite a string of optimistic choices resulting in low values of energy investments, the ERoEI is significantly below 1. In other words, an electrical supply system based on today’s PV technologies cannot be termed an energy source, but rather a non-sustainable energy sink or a non-sustainable NET ENERGY LOSS. The methodology recommended by the expert working group of the IEA appears to yield EROI levels which lie between 5 and 6, (see Section 4.1), but which are really not meaningful for determining the efficiency, sustainability and affordability of an energy source. The main conclusions to be drawn are:
• The result of rigorously calculating the “extended ERoEI” for regions of moderate insolation levels as experienced in Switzerland and Germany proves to be very revealing. It indicates that, at least at today's state of development, the PV technology cannot offer an energy source but a NET ENERGY LOSS, since its ERoEIEXT is not only very far from the minimum value of 5 for sustainability suggested by Murphy and Hall (2011), but is less than 1.
The conclusions are as follows: firstly, the service life of solar panels under natural conditions is a maximum of 17 years instead of the 25 years declared by the manufacturers; secondly, the solar activity in the EU is not enough for their energy self-sufficiency throughout the life of their operation (EROEI of energy production was 0.82). That is, the batteries generated 82% of the energy spent on their manufacture, installation and other associated costs. Solar panels in the EU have literally become energy sinks. In their report, the scientists wrote about this in large print: "NET ENERGY LOSS"!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421516301379#
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