Chapter 19 - Renewable energy: The future of photovoltaic energy

Abstract

It is necessary to establish sustainable energy development planning through renewable generation systems to promote energy change toward sustainability. Among the renewable energy systems, solar photovoltaic technology is the most progressive and offers the best global prospects, albeit with different limitations, which has made photovoltaics the subject of high-level research over the past 70 years. Trends in solar cell improvement focus on reducing manufacturing costs and maintaining high efficiencies using green environmentally friendly materials, thin-film manufacturing technologies, and new chemical systems. The latest generation of nanophotovoltaic solar cells is influenced by the low cost of the thin-film polymers coupled with the durability of organic nanostructures.

Photovoltaic applications are growing as the technology and use of solar energy advances. The evolution of solar cells leads to the expansion and improvement of renewable energy applications. One promising option is tandem technology, which competes with future single-junction solar cells. Perovskite tandems are competitive regarding efficiency but still need to improve stability.

Technological innovations in photovoltaic systems will make it possible to: increase the efficiency of solar modules to their physical limits, increase their useful life, reduce their environmental impact, and develop new systems with new materials aimed at lower manufacturing costs. Prospects for solar photovoltaic should drive research to achieve sustainability goals and commercial applicability within the next decade.