How do I calculate the carbon footprint of solar modules assembled in India?
Add the bought-in cells, glass, aluminium frame, EVA, backsheet and junction box per module from supplier figures; cells are usually the largest share. Add the line's electricity for stringing, lamination and testing, then divide by watts produced.
Materials
- Solar cells by watt, with the cell maker's figure and country.
- Front glass, aluminium frame, EVA and backsheet by weight.
- Junction box, cables, sealant and packing.
Assembly
- Cell stringing and layup.
- Laminators, the largest electricity load on the line.
- Framing, curing, flash testing and EL inspection.
Per watt
Report per watt peak, since module power ratings differ. Keep the cell origin with the figure.
Worked example: module line per watt (one month)
- Electricity: 300,000 kWh x 0.710 = 213,000 kg CO2
- Watts produced: 50,000,000
- Plant total: 213,000 / 50,000,000 = 0.00426 kg CO2 per watt
- Add cells, glass, frame and backsheet for the full figure
Inputs are illustrative; use your own bills and production records.
What Senseible does here
Senseible reads the plant's electricity bills (CEA grid factor 0.710 kg CO2 per kWh, CO2 Baseline Database version 21.0) and fuel invoices (IPCC 2006 defaults) into a fingerprinted Scope 1 and 2 record, the plant-level input to a per-unit figure. Bought-in materials go to the supplier evidence trail; product reports are self-declared drafts.
- Product carbon footprint calculator
- Renewable capacity per tonne of green hydrogen
- Carbon footprint of imported lithium-ion cells
Sources: GHG Protocol Product Standard, ISO 14067:2018, Carbon footprint of products (iso.org), IPCC 2006 Guidelines, Volume 2 Energy (fuel defaults), CEA CO2 Baseline Database, version 21.0
Last reviewed 2026-10-20.