# How do I calculate the carbon footprint of solar modules assembled in India?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/solar-module-assembly-carbon-footprint-per-watt

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](https://senseible.earth/calculators/product-carbon-footprint)
- [Renewable capacity per tonne of green hydrogen](https://senseible.earth/answers/renewable-capacity-per-tonne-green-hydrogen)
- [Carbon footprint of imported lithium-ion cells](https://senseible.earth/answers/carbon-footprint-of-imported-lithium-ion-cells)

Sources: [GHG Protocol Product Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/standards), [ISO 14067:2018, Carbon footprint of products (iso.org)](https://www.iso.org), [IPCC 2006 Guidelines, Volume 2 Energy (fuel defaults)](https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol2.html), [CEA CO2 Baseline Database, version 21.0](https://cea.nic.in/cdm-co2-baseline-database/?lang=en)

Last reviewed 2026-10-20.