Study on Development, Prospects, Challenge, and Applications of Solar Panel: Global and Local Perspective

Abstract

Solar power is a rapidly growing renewable energy source that converts sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells. Global solar capacity has grown exponentially over the past decade, driven by plummeting technology costs and aggressive government climate targets. China, the United States, and the European Union lead in total installed capacity. Continued efficiency improvements in perovskite solar cells and bifacial panels promise even higher energy yields. Solar is projected to become the largest source of global electricity generation in the coming decades. Intermittent generation requires heavy investment in battery storage and grid modernization. Supply chain bottlenecks for critical materials like polysilicon, silver, and silicon remain a concern. Beyond utility-scale solar farms, applications include building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), floating solar farms on reservoirs, and agrivoltaics (combining farming with solar panels). However, today flexible solar panels offer a revolutionary approach to overcoming structural hurdles. Unlike their rigid counterparts, flexible solar panels are lightweight and can be seamlessly integrated onto various surfaces, including curved and uneven ones. This adaptability allows industrial facilities to transform previously unusable spaces into productive energy-generating areas. Industrial facilities often struggle with space constraints and the logistical challenges of installing traditional solar panels. Roof structures, facades, and other surfaces may not support the weight and rigidity of conventional panels, leading to underutilization of potential solar energy resources. Flexible solar panels stand out from their rigid counterparts due to their unique construction and technology. This reviews paper will describe and evaluate the important information, materials, manufacturing process, technology, advantages, applications, market, and transformation of solar technology in general and flexible solar panel in particular to meet the global energy requirement as clean energy source to mitigate global warming and climate issues.