RECENT ADVANCES IN PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS FOR ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Solar energy technology, particularly photovoltaics (PV), has experienced significant advancements over the past three decades. While photovoltaic technologies have achieved notable maturity in terms of materials, efficiency, cost, and production, various application domains continue to evolve. This review explores recent progress in PV applications across several less-reviewed areas, including transportation, domestic uses, street lighting, and water- related applications. Each domain's sub-applications and the potential future developments are highlighted. Advances include integrating smart controls to optimize energy use based on solar availability and building demand. Indoor PV applications involve using solar energy to power devices and systems within buildings, such as lighting, ventilation, and small appliances with recent progress which includes innovations in the use of transparent PV panels for windows and specialized PV cells for indoor light harvesting. These technologies aim to enhance energy efficiency and reduce reliance on grid power within homes. PV technology is increasingly utilized in street lighting systems, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional grid-powered lights which has recent developmental focus on integrating high-efficiency PV cells with LED lighting to reduce energy consumption. Innovations include autonomous, off-grid street lighting systems with integrated batteries to store solar energy for nighttime use even in practical physics experiment in school laboratory. In water applications, PV-powered desalination systems convert solar energy into electricity to drive desalination processes, providing fresh water in arid region. Advances include solar stills and solar-powered reverse osmosis systems.