A Review on Solar Energy Technology and its Role in Sustainable Power Generation

Abstract

Both growth in human population and increase in industrial activities have resulted in the corresponding growth in rate of consumption of energy. Simultaneously, the excessive reliance on fossil fuels contributed to a major environmental problem, primarily, the pollution by greenhouse gases and climate alterations. Such problems have prompted scientists to seek alternative, clean and renewable energy. Solar energy has received great interests among clean and green sources of energy considering that it is abundant and does not pollute the environment during its operation. Solar energy is a clean energy produced by the sun which is used to produce other useful energy forms, mostly electricity or heat. Solar energy systems take two broad forms, i.e., photovoltaic cells which use calcium into electricity and solar-thermal systems which use calcium into heating and then into electricity or heating. The recent breakthrough in solar cell technology has increased the efficiency and lowered the total cost of solar power system. Nowadays solar energy systems have been put into use in various areas, some of these areas include the production of electricity in households, industries and even big solar powered farms. Nevertheless, along with all the substantial advantages, there are a number of issues that accompany the process of producing solar power, and they are not connected to any specific problem, primarily, the supply of sunlight, which can be different depending on the weather conditions or the location. It also needs an energy storage system to deliver a steady supply of power when the sun does not shine. Despite the obstacles, solar energy is touted as a potential source of renewable energy in the future. With new renewable systems of energy being embraced by countries, there is probability that the solar power systems will significantly contribute in mitigating the presence of greenhouse gases and increasing the changing climate to a more conducive one.