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With perovskite solar cell (PSC) performance already touching the limits of single junction PV devices, the major challenges have now shifted to upscaling and stability. A plethora of materials and processes have been used for making perovskite solar cells/modules in order to tackle these challenges. However, it is important to see the impact of these decision variables not only on the cost and efficiency of the final cells but also on their environmental footprint. In this work, the analysis of these different options of technologies and materials on the final environmental footprint using a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) approach is carried out and uncertainty with respect to these options is discussed in detail in order to gain insights into more optimal designs of perovskite solar cells. A comparison of the possible range of environmental impact indicators for perovskite solar modules with existing mature PV technologies is also presented to highlight the future prospects of perovskite solar technology in providing more eco-friendly and sustainable energy solutions. The results indicate that on average PSCs are not considerably better than existing PV technologies and show the possibility of optimizing PSCs with respect to different LCA indicators. • Holistic and predictive approach for analyzing the life cycle impacts of perovskite solar cells/modules. • Uncertainties in environmental impacts at each stage of perovskite module manufacturing. • Highlighting the importance of various impact categories by comparing them with existing photovoltaic technologies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enormous gains in efficiency over the last decade have pushed perovskite solar cells towards the cusp of entering into the mass production phase. Given the solution-phase processability and low energy intensity of several techniques, many techniques have been explored to manufacture these cells and modules. Among them, inkjet printing has shown potential for fabricating all the active layers while also achieving higher efficiencies along with the benefits of lower cost and high material efficiency. In this article, we focus on the application of mathematical modeling of the process and understanding the impacts of different decision variables on key performance indicators at various levels. In particular, the screening of decision variables space and their effect on final key performance indicators related to the complete solar module are discussed, highlighting the effectiveness and limitations of using such mechanistic models for manufacturing system optimization. [Display omitted] • Decision variables screening for inkjet printing of perovskite solar cells. • Application of mechanistic model for inkjet printing to manufacture perovskite solar cells. • Impact analysis on module key performance indicators (KPIs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]