SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF ENERGY TRANSITION

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic energy emerges as one of the main energy alternatives in the context of sustainable development, due to its high environmental mitigation potential, its contribution to energy matrix diversification, and its positive economic and social impacts. The problem guiding this study lies in the need to understand to what extent the expansion of solar energy can effectively contribute to sustainable development, considering not only its environmental benefits, but also its economic, technological, institutional, and social constraints. The general objective is to critically analyze the relationship between solar photovoltaic energy and sustainable development, examining its impacts on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Methodologically, a qualitative approach is adopted, of a bibliographic and documentary nature, with critical analysis of scientific productions published between 2015 and 2026, in addition to institutional reports and regulatory frameworks of the energy sector. The results indicate that solar photovoltaic energy has high potential to promote sustainable development, provided it is integrated with consistent public policies, long-term energy planning, and social inclusion mechanisms. It is concluded that solar photovoltaic energy, when properly governed, constitutes a strategic vector for energy transition and for the construction of more equitable and environmentally responsible development models.