136160 20260217205522.0 doi 10.1016/j.energy.2024.131961 sideral 139144 ART-2024-139144 eng Torrubia, Jorge Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-9282-1428 Renewable exergy return on investment (RExROI) in energy systems. The case of silicon photovoltaic panels 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted The ongoing energy transition towards renewable sources faces reliance on fossil fuels throughout their life cycle, primarily due to mining and material production for infrastructure. This study proposes the Renewable Exergy Return on Investment (RExROI) metric, which quantifies the renewable exergy obtained from each unit of non-renewable exergy invested in energy systems. It can be seen as a Renewation Index, applicable to any energy production system, indicating the degree of renewability of such technologies. Focused on silicon photovoltaic panels, the study explores five material intensities, nine scenarios based on the capacity factor and lifespan, and two alternatives for electricity used in the manufacture. Results show that material intensity increases RExROI from −0.6 MJ/MJ (non-renewable exergy is higher than electricity produced) to 5.7 MJ/MJ, increasing until 19 MJ/MJ with the best location and lifespan, and reaching 34 MJ/MJ if renewable electricity is used in manufacturing. Thus, carbon intensity can range from 734 to 7 gCO2eq/kWh. Furthermore, some strategies to enhance RExROI are discussed based on the (i) energy sources, (ii) materials, and (iii) production stages of photovoltaic panels. Thus, this study demonstrates the usefulness of RExROI in evaluating the energy-material-emission nexus of energy systems through exergy in the context of energy transition. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/HORIZON EUROPE/101091668/EU/Aragon's REgional Hub for circularity: Demonstration Of Local industrial-urban symbiosis initiatives/REDOL info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2020-116851RB-I00 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es 9.4 2024 THERMODYNAMICS 3 / 79 = 0.038 2024 Q1 T1 ENERGY & FUELS 31 / 182 = 0.17 2024 Q1 T1 2.211 2024 Building and Construction 2024 Q1 Civil and Structural Engineering 2024 Q1 Electrical and Electronic Engineering 2024 Q1 Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law 2024 Q1 Energy Engineering and Power Technology 2024 Q1 Fuel Technology 2024 Q1 Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering 2024 Q1 Energy (miscellaneous) 2024 Q1 16.5 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Valero, Alicia Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-3330-1793 Valero, Antonio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-0702-733X 5004 590 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica Área Máquinas y Motores Térmi. 304 (2024), 131961 [9 pp.] Energy Energy 0360-5442 4582855 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/136160/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2563364 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/136160/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:136160 articulos driver 2026-02-17-20:29:06 ARTICLE