The advantages of solar power extend beyond energy production, positively impacting the local workforce. Solar energy is one of the cleanest and most sustainable energy sources available. Unlike fossil fuels, which emit harmful pollutants and contribute to global warming, solar power produces zero emissions.
The global energy crisis, marked by rising costs and power outages, highlights the potential of solar energy as a sustainable alternative. With many regions receiving over 2,500 hours of sunlight annually, solar power offers a reliable, clean solution to reduce dependence on unstable electricity grids and meet growing energy demands.
There are several ways to turn sunlight into usable energy, but almost all solar energy today comes from “solar photovoltaics (PV).” Solar PV relies on a natural property of “semiconductor” materials like silicon, which can absorb the energy from sunlight and turn it into electric current.
Through a detailed and systematic literature survey, the present review study summarizes the world solar energy status, including concentrating solar power and solar PV power, along with published solar energy potential assessment articles for 235 countries and territories as the first step toward developing solar energy in these regions.
By tapping into this vast natural resource, solar systems can generate enough electricity to power homes, businesses, and even large industries, helping to reduce dependence on traditional electricity grids while contributing to cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions worldwide.
Click here to see information from the infographic above in a table. By far the most common solar energy technology, photovoltaics are an “additive” energy source that can be used on a single home’s rooftop or in a large farm producing thousands of megawatts of electricity—enough to power a midsize city.