Review of global sustainable solar energy policies: Significance and impact

作者：T S Kishore, Potnuru Upendra Kumar, Vidyabharati Ippili · 发表于：Innovation and Green Development · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.igd.2025.100224 · 被引用次数：103 · 研究领域：Energy and Environment Impacts、Photovoltaic Systems and Sustainability、Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

As efforts worldwide to mitigate climate change strengthen, solar energy has arisen as a critical component of national energy strategies aimed at reducing CO 2 releases. In 2023, worldwide CO 2 releases from energy rose by 1.1 % to a record 37.4 gigatons, largely due to increased coal use and rising energy demand. This paper examines the role of solar energy in curbing emissions by analyzing electricity trends and policies from top solar-producing nations. This review employs a comprehensive methodology, encompassing a literature review (2015–2023), analysis of country-specific solar energy policies, empirical data and case studies, and an evaluation of challenges with future recommendations, to assess global solar energy development. Quantitative data shows that solar energy can significantly reduce emissions, with every megawatt hour of solar electricity reducing approximately 0.5 tons of CO 2 . Case studies from countries like Germany and California demonstrate how robust solar policies contribute to emissions reductions, while examples from India and China highlight the challenges of continued reliance on fossil fuels. The paper emphasizes the importance of widespread strategy frameworks that not only encourage solar adoption but also discusses broader energy system dependencies. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of global solar energy policies and their effectiveness in mitigating climate change. By comparing successful and challenged implementations, it high...