Transition from Fossil Fuel to Sustainability: Solar Energy—Prospects, Technology Advancement, Policies, Challenges, and Opportunities

This review underscores the increasing significance of solar energy, especially photovoltaics (PVs), as a clean and sustainable substitute for conventional energy. It details the historical development and underlying principles of PV technology, emphasizing progress in materials such as perovskites and organic cells. While recognizing solar energy’s promise, the review also examines existing obstacles like efficiency limitations, elevated costs, and infrastructural constraints. Exploring future innovations like advanced energy storage and agrivoltaics, it emphasizes that resolving persistent issues related to efficiency, cost, scalability, and supportive policies is essential to fully harness solar energy’s potential and create a sustainable energy future.