This paper provides a forecast critical environmental sustainability evaluation of a UK university’s proposed solar panel installation and impact assessment on key stakeholders. The objectives were to forecast greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and identify areas for reduction, forecast payback and carbon neutrality periods, and map stakeholder relationships. A carbon audit gathered GHG emissions data for raw material extraction, solar panel manufacture, transportation and decommissioning. The functional unit for measuring greenhouse gas emissions was kg CO2-eq. Stakeholder mapping analysed inter-relationships between various groups such as management, staff and students. The vast majority of GHG emissions arise from raw material extraction. However, the use of recycled materials could significantly reduce the installation’s carbon footprint. The installation is forecast to become carbon neutral within 2 years and payback within 4 years. Stakeholder analysis suggests potential areas of resistance; specifically a challenging economic situation, timing and choice of system. Carbon auditing lacks a standardised methodology so different audits can yield different forecasts. Campus location, available space, choice of system and type of solar panels affect costs and payback periods. The findings are therefore indicative in nature. Accreditation of material suppliers and supply chain transparency is important. Recycled materials should be prioritised with contractors subject to cost. This significantly affects the installation’s carbon footprint. The findings provide an indication of the environmental and cost benefits of solar installations on university campuses, whilst identifying the associated relationship dynamics and power influences of key stakeholders.
References
[1]
Lottu, O.A., Ehiaguina, V.E., Ayodeji, S.A., Ndiwe, T.C. and Izuka, U. (2023) Global Review of Solar Power in Education: Initiatives, Challenges, And Benefits. EngineeringScience&TechnologyJournal, 4, 209-221. https://doi.org/10.51594/estj.v4i4.583
[2]
University of Huddersfield (2024) Solar Panels Begin Carbon Reduction Scheme on Campus. https://www.hud.ac.uk/news/2021/january/solar-panels-campus-carbon-reduction-plan/#:~:text=Over%20500%20solar%20panels%20are%20being%20installed,Plan'%20towards%20achieving%20Carbon%20Neutral%20status%20for
[3]
Pahuja, S. (2021) Accounting for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. In: Idowu, S., Schmidpeter, R., Capaldi, N., Zu, L., Del Baldo, M. and Abreu, R., Eds., EncyclopediaofSustainableManagement, Springer International Publishing, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02006-4_565-1
[4]
Panjawani, P., Jain, D.V., Bhandari, K.R., et al (2020) Design and Analysis of Solar Structural and Mountings for Solar Panel. International Journal of Future Generation Communication and Networking, 13, 668-679.
[5]
Furszyfer Del Rio, D.D., Sovacool, B.K., Foley, A.M., Griffiths, S., Bazilian, M., Kim, J., et al. (2022) Decarbonizing the Glass Industry: A Critical and Systematic Review of Developments, Sociotechnical Systems and Policy Options. RenewableandSustainableEnergyReviews, 155, Article 111885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111885
[6]
Nicholson, S.R., Rorrer, N.A., Carpenter, A.C. and Beckham, G.T. (2021) Manufacturing Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Plastics Consumption. Joule, 5, 673-686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2020.12.027
[7]
Tabereaux, A.T. and Peterson, R.D. (2024) Aluminum Production. In: Seetharaman, S., Guthrie, R., et al., Eds., TreatiseonProcessMetallurgy, Elsevier, 625-676. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-85373-6.00004-1
[8]
S？varsdottir, G., Kvande, H. and Magnusson, T. (2021) Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Silicon Production-Development of Carbon Footprint with Changing Energy Systems. SSRNElectronicJournal, 11 p. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3926088
[9]
Csiba-Herczeg, á., Koteczki, R., Lukács, B. and Balassa, B.E. (2023) Case Study-Based Scenario Analysis Comparing GHG Emissions of Wine Packaging Types. CleanerEngineeringandTechnology, 15, Article 100649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2023.100649
Heidari, S.M. and Anctil, A. (2022) Country-Specific Carbon Footprint and Cumulative Energy Demand of Metallurgical Grade Silicon Production for Silicon Photovoltaics. Resources, ConservationandRecycling, 180, Article 106171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106171
[12]
Balaram, V. (2022) Rare Earth Element Deposits: Sources, and Exploration Strategies. JournaloftheGeologicalSocietyofIndia, 98, 1210-1216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-022-2154-3
[13]
Bo？njakovi？, M., Santa, R., Crnac, Z. and Bo？njakovi？, T. (2023) Environmental Impact of PV Power Systems. Sustainability, 15, Article 11888. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511888
[14]
Zimmerman, R., Panda, A. and Bulovi？, V. (2020) Techno-Economic Assessment and Deployment Strategies for Vertically-Mounted Photovoltaic Panels. AppliedEnergy, 276, Article 115149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115149
[15]
(2026) Photovoltaic Geographical Information System. https://pvgis.com/en
Energy Saving Trust (2024) Energy Price Cap Explained. https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/what-is-the-energy-price-cap/
[18]
Harvard Business School (2025) Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Formula: What It Is and How to Use It. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/discounted-cash-flow
[19]
Bank of England (2024) What Is Bank Rate? https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-are-interest-rates#:~:text=Bank%20Rate%20is%20currently%205%25
[20]
The National Grid (2024) Energy Explained.
[21]
Sharma, H.B., Vanapalli, K.R., Barnwal, V.K., Dubey, B. and Bhattacharya, J. (2021) Evaluation of Heavy Metal Leaching under Simulated Disposal Conditions and Formulation of Strategies for Handling Solar Panel Waste. ScienceofTheTotalEnvironment, 780, Article 146645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146645
[22]
Giordano-Spring, S., Larrinaga, C. and Rivière-Giordano, G. (2024) Field-Configuring Events and the Failure to Standardise Accounting for Carbon Emissions. Accounting, Auditing&AccountabilityJournal, 37, 216-247. https://doi.org/10.1108/aaaj-07-2022-5946
[23]
CASE (2024) Giving to UK and Irish Universities in 2022-23 Reaches All-Time High of ￡1.37 Billion in Funds Received. https://www.case.org/resources/giving-uk-and-irish-universities-2022-23-reaches-all-time-high-ps137-billion-funds
[24]
Bryson, J.M. (2004) What to Do When Stakeholders Matter: Stakeholder Identification and Analysis Techniques. PublicManagementReview, 6, 21-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719030410001675722
[25]
People and Planet (2024) League Tables. https://peopleandplanet.org/university-league/2023/u1186/university-of-huddersfield
[26]
University of Huddersfield (2024) Financial Statements. https://www.hud.ac.uk/about/financialstatements/
[27]
Stacey, R. (2018) Complexity at the “Edge” of the Basic-Assumption Group. In: Gould, L.J., Ed., TheSystemsPsychodynamicsofOrganizations, Routledge, 91-114. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429483387-5
[28]
Carroll, A.B. (1991) The Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility: Toward the Moral Management of Organizational Stakeholders. BusinessHorizons, 34, 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/0007-6813(91)90005-g
[29]
Friedman, M. (2007) The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits. In: Zimmerli, W.C., Holzinger, M. and Richter, K., Eds., CorporateEthicsandCorporateGovernance, Springer, 173-178. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-70818-6_14
[30]
Babatunde, O., Adebisi, J., Emezirinwune, M., Babatunde, D. and Abdulsalam, K.A. (2024) How Serious Are Ethical Considerations in Energy System Decarbonization? CurrentOpinioninEnvironmentalSustainability, 71, Article 101477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2024.101477
[31]
Sui, C., de Vos, P., Stapersma, D., Visser, K. and Ding, Y. (2020) Fuel Consumption and Emissions of Ocean-Going Cargo Ship with Hybrid Propulsion and Different Fuels over Voyage. JournalofMarineScienceandEngineering, 8, Article 588. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8080588
[32]
CLECAT (2024) Calculating GHG Emissions for Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services in Accordance with EN 16258. https://www.clecat.org/media/CLECAT_Guide_on_Calculating_GHG_emissions_for_freight_forwarding_and_logistics_services.pdf
[33]
Donyoung, K. (2021) Recycling Solar Panels—Completing the Sustainability Cycle of Photovoltaic Power Generation. Reddie and Gros.
