A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON GLOBAL ENERGY SCENARIO AND SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER EXTRACTION PRINCIPLES

Abstract

The global energy landscape is undergoing a rapid transition driven by increasing demand, environmental concerns, and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves. Renewable resources—wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal—have emerged as key contributors to sustainable power generation due to their natural abundance and declining technological costs. This review presents an overview of the world energy scenario, highlighting the availability and extraction potential of major renewable resources. Special emphasis is placed on solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, which has become the fastest-growing energy technology globally. Fundamental principles including the photovoltaic effect, I–V and P–V characteristics, and the influence of insolation, temperature, and shading are discussed. The paper reviews PV module configurations, ratings, and operational considerations in gridconnected systems. Power extraction techniques, particularly Maximum Power Point (MPP) operation, are analyzed to illustrate how modern converters and MPPT algorithms optimize energy harvest under varying environmental conditions. The review concludes by identifying research gaps in PV system modeling, environmental impact prediction, and advanced control for maximizing renewable energy extraction.