Solar energy: Potential and future prospects

The development of novel solar power technologies is considered to be one of many key solutions toward fulfilling a worldwide increasing demand for energy. Rapid growth within the field of solar technologies is nonetheless facing various technical barriers, such as low solar cell efficiencies, low performing balance-of-systems (BOS), economic hindrances (e.g., high upfront costs and a lack of financing mechanisms), and institutional obstacles (e.g., inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of skilled manpower). The merits and demerits of solar energy technologies are both discussed in this article. A number of technical problems affecting renewable energy research are also highlighted, along with beneficial interactions between regulation policy frameworks and their future prospects. In order to help open novel routes with regard to solar energy research and practices, a future roadmap for the field of solar research is discussed.