A conceptual study examining solar energy adoption for community resilience

The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events due to climate change have exposed major vulnerabilities in conventional power systems, often resulting in prolonged blackouts and critical service disruptions. Traditional backup solutions, such as diesel generators, provide only short-term relief and are constrained by fuel availability, logistical challenges, and significant environmental impacts. This conceptual study explores solar energy, specifically photovoltaic (PV) systems paired with battery storage, as a resilient and sustainable alternative for community-level emergency power. Advances in smart grid technologies now enable the integration of decentralized renewable energy systems, enhancing both resilience and energy efficiency. This conceptual study is grounded in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), using its four priorities as an analytical lens to examine how solar energy contributes to community resilience: (1) understanding disaster risk through improved visibility of energy-system vulnerabilities and climate-risk linkages; (2) strengthening disaster risk governance by enabling decentralized, adaptive, and policy-integrated energy systems; (3) investing in disaster risk reduction through distributed solar infrastructure, cost savings, and local economic benefits; and (4) enhancing preparedness for response and recovery through technologies such as real-time monitoring, peer-to-peer energy sharing, microgrids, and energy storage systems. Despite these advantages, challenges remain in cost, infrastructure readiness, regulatory frameworks, and equitable access.