Solar Energy

 Solar Energy

The sun is an astonishing and endlessly replenishable source that has the potential to support life on the planet as well as provide energy that is both clean and able to be sustained throughout time. In reality, of course, our planet receives more energy from the sun in a single hour than the whole human population of the globe consumes in a single year. Through the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, the energy from the sun may be transformed into usable energy.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules take in light from the sun and transform it into a usable form of electrical power. Since solar power can be generated everywhere there is sunlight, it is an attractive option for meeting energy needs. Solar electric systems may operate independently of the utility grid and are thus an attractive option for distant places. This is made possible by the fact that solar power can be combined with batteries, which are used to store energy. Photovoltaic panels have no moving components, which results in cheap maintenance expenses. In addition, solar modules are very dependable and also have high durability, with a guaranteed energy supply for 25 years or more. Because solar power uses the sun as its source of fuel, there is no requirement to dig for fossil fuels, refine those fuels, or transport them to the location where the solar panels are located.   

Photovoltaic technology is broadly classified into two main categories Active and Passive. Active solar technologies include concentrated solar power, photovoltaic systems,  and solar water heating. These technologies are used to harvest the sun's rays and turn them into usable energy. Direct use of active solar energy is required for several processes, including the drying of garments and the warming of the air. Orienting a structure to face the sun, using materials that have favourable thermal mass or light-dispersing qualities, and creating rooms that naturally circulate air are all examples of passive solar approaches.

In the year 2020, solar PV generation reached an all-time high of 821 TWh, representing an increase of a record 156 TWh, or 23 percent. It showed the second-largest absolute generation increase of all renewable technologies in the year 2020, trailing slightly behind wind power but surpassing hydropower's performance. An extraordinary surge in photovoltaic capacity expansions, totaling a record 134 gigawatts (GW), was sparked by impending policy constraints in China, the United States, and Viet Nam. Solar photovoltaics (PV) are quickly becoming the most economically viable choice for the production of power over the majority of the globe; as a result, more investment is anticipated over the next few years.

The Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, on the other hand, forecasts an average yearly rise in the generation of 24 percent between the years 2020 and 2030, which would translate to 630 GW of net capacity additions in 2030 [1]. This almost fivefold increases in annual deployment until 2030 will require much greater policy ambition and additional efforts from both public and private stakeholders, particularly in the areas of grid integration policy, regulation, and financing challenges, particularly in emerging and developing countries.

As a result, the tracking status for Solar PV has been altered from "on track" to "additional efforts required," which reflects the increased goal of the Net Zero Scenario in comparison to the Sustainable Development Scenario from the previous year.

References: 

[1]  [4]P. Bojek and H. Bahar, "Solar PV – Analysis - IEA", IEA, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv.