Life cycle assessment of perovskite tandem photovoltaics for environmental viability

Perovskite-based tandem photovoltaics are compelling because they surpass single-junction efficiency limits and deliver higher energy yield per unit area, supporting progress toward lower levelized cost of electricity. However, efficiency alone does not establish technological sustainability, since additional layers, interfaces, and processing routes alter energy and material flows across the product life cycle. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) provides a quantitative framework to evaluate environmental impacts, including greenhouse-gas emissions, toxicity-related indicators, and material criticality, under well-defined functional units and system boundaries. Emerging evidence indicates that perovskite tandems can achieve favorable environmental performance relative to silicon modules when material intensity, manufacturing energy, durability, and circular options such as top-cell renewal and end-of-life recovery are appropriately managed. This review first outlines the working principles, device configurations, and recent LCA findings for perovskite-based tandems. It then presents LCA studies on circular strategies focused on recycling and materials recovery. Finally, it outlines research priorities in LCA and sustainability to support the environmentally responsible development of perovskite photovoltaic technology.