The 2011 world average carbon footprint of PV system manufacturing is estimated as 1798 kg CO2- eq/kWp using technology shares (multi, mono, film Si, CdTe, CIGS) as weighting factors. The electricity mixes of all production countries of poly-Si, wafer, cell and modules was taken into account. New yearly irradiation data (kWh/m2) and PV energy output (kWh/kWp) are calculated for different regions in Europe on NUTS level 1 and 2 for horizontal, optimum and vertical angle. The world average carbon footprint of PV electricity generation is estimated as 55 g CO2- eq/kWh with cumulative installations as weighting factors. Lowest value of 38 g CO2-eq/kWh is for Cyprus which has a high irradiation and the highest value of 89 g CO2-eq/kWh is for Iceland which has a low irradiation. It is assumed that the PV modules are installed at optimal angle to the sun and end-of-life treatment is excluded. The majority of countries can decrease the greenhouse gas emission of electricity generation by increasing the share of photovoltaics.

29th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 3421-3430