Solar Energy: Applications, Trends Analysis, Bibliometric Analysis and Research Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

Over the past decade, energy demand has witnessed a drastic increase, mainly due to huge development in the industry sector and growing populations. This has led to the global utilization of renewable energy resources and technologies to meet this high demand, as fossil fuels are bound to end and are causing harm to the environment. Solar PV (photovoltaic) systems are a renewable energy technology that allows the utilization of solar energy directly from the sun to meet electricity demands. Solar PV has the potential to create a reliable, clean and stable energy systems for the future. This paper discusses the different types and generations of solar PV technologies available, as well as several important applications of solar PV systems, which are “Large-Scale Solar PV”, “Residential Solar PV”, “Green Hydrogen”, “Water Desalination” and “Transportation”. This paper also provides research on the number of solar papers and their applications that relate to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the years between 2011 and 2021. A total of 126,513 papers were analyzed. The results show that 72% of these papers are within SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. This shows that there is a lack of research in solar energy regarding the SDGs, especially SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequality and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. More research is needed in these fields to create a sustainable world with solar PV technologies.

Untapped potentials on a well‐endowed plate: A sustainable future catalogue for the harmony of renewable technologies with the water‐energy‐climate‐SDGs nexus

“…However, contrary to their work where the ocean energy is regarded as a renewable technology that can complement the future electricity system, this paper does not record a significant impact of ocean energy on the explanation of water‐energy nexus. These findings of the paper where solar PV is reported as a powerful technology, and SDG4 and SDG5 have relatively low outer weights compared with other ones generally show similarity with the ones in the study by Obaideen et al (2023), which reveals the lack of research in solar energy regarding those SDGs.…”

“…In their study using the snowballing approach, Hoosain et al (2023) revealed that a transition from a linear economy to a circular economy and newer Fourth Industrial Revolution digital technologies can positively back up the climate–water–energy–food nexus and also handle the UN‐SDGs ‐particularly SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13‐ in a direct manner. Obaideen et al (2023) identified the bibliometric analysis regarding the solar PV system applications and technologies ‐Large‐Scale Solar PV”, “Residential Solar PV”, “Green Hydrogen”, “Water Desalination” and “Transportation”‐ as associated with SDGs for the period 2011–2021. Analyzed 126,513 papers reveal that solar energy researches predominantly focus on SDG7 and SDG13 respectively.…”

Carbon Footprint Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation: A Review of the Approaches, Technologies, and Implementation Challenges

“…The majority of modern solar photovoltaic systems fall under the first generation, utilizing silicon as their semiconductor material. These cells are renowned for their efficiency and durability, making them valuable for residential and commercial applications [40,46]. However, the disadvantage of these technologies is their high cost [44].…”

“…Thin-film solar cells are commonly used in buildings and small PV systems [47]. Their widespread use is limited by their shorter lifetime and/or the use of highly toxic components [46]. Presently, solar PV technologies have made significant advancements, and various types of third-generation solar PV cells are being developed.…”

Photovoltaic Power Prediction Using Analytical Models and Homer-Pro: Investigation of Results Reliability

“…Standalone, hybrid, and grid-connected PV systems will play an important role in the transition to a sustainable environment in the future [4]. Grid-connected PV systems allow end-users of electricity, communities, and small factories to generate electrical energy from the sun.…”