Solar Energy Heat Research Articles

Enhancing efficiency of dense array CPV receivers with controlled DC-DC converters and adaptive microfluidic cooling under non-uniform solar irradiance

Concentrating solar technologies offer substantial potential for optimizing solar energy for heat and power generation, particularly in green hydrogen production. This study investigates the use of commercial high efficiency concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells in a central tower concentrating solar system to enhance energy conversion efficiency. By integrating DC-DC converters with self-adaptive microfluidic cooling systems, we address current mismatches and temperature variations that affect CPV performance. The novel receiver design ensures scalability for large-scale implementations by implementing the electrical connections between DC-DC converters and each CPV cell without creating shaded areas. We numerically model and simulate the thermodynamic and electrical characteristics of a dense array CPV receiver, evaluating six illumination profiles. Our results indicate a significant improvement in receiver efficiency compared to the traditional configuration with bypass diodes, demonstrating an increase from 23.4 % to 30.3 % under a central Gaussian illumination profile, and reaching up to 38 % relative efficiency improvement depending on the applied profile. Power transfer losses decrease from 26 % to 10 % when 200 kW/m2 of illumination non-uniformity occurs. The proposed solution enhances reliability and energy conversion efficiency, presenting a viable path forward for large-scale CPV applications.

Improving solar HVAC performance by incorporating sutterby SiO2–Cu/C3H8O2 hybrid nanofluid flow via a collocation based Gegenbauer wavelets technique: Effects of electromagnetic control and Smoluchowksi's temperature slippage

AbstractThe utilization of solar energy in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems has gained significant attention as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to meet the increasing energy demands. Therefore, this research work introduces a novel engineering study that explores solar‐HVAC systems. However, the study utilized hybrid nanofluids (HNFs) consisting of silicon dioxide and copper nanoparticles, with propylene glycol serving as the base fluid. Furthermore, this exploration features a magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) driven rotating flow with activation energy to enhance the heat transfer performance of solar‐HVAC systems. To increase the model novelty, 3D mathematical models were developed to characterize boundary conditions, which include the speed slippery and Smoluchowski temperature slippage. The partial differential equations in the model are transformed into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) through the use of similarity transformations. The Wavelets and Gegenbauer wavelets method in Mathematica was utilized to solve ODEs and investigate physical attributes such as plate friction, Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and mass flux. The findings show that the solar thermal radiation and magnetic field improve the thermal transfer efficiency of solar‐HVAC. Therefore, the findings of the research have practical applications in solar energy for HVAC systems and can contribute to technological improvements in the manufacturing industry.

A novel heating system of solar-assisted enhanced jet enthalpy air source heat pump for cold regions

Solar energy and air source heat pumps are common heat sources for clean heating, but at lower ambient temperatures, the performance of solar energy and air source heat pumps will decline significantly, which can be ameliorated by integrating the two heat sources. However, the range of solar radiation and ambient temperature variation is very wide, and the existing integration methods cannot guarantee that they are optimal over a wide range. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel integration method of solar energy and jet enthalpy air source heat pump suitable for cold regions, where solar energy is used to heat the refrigerant in the jet branch to increase the flow rate of the jet branch, which enhances the effect of jet enthalpy. Under varying outdoor temperatures and solar radiations, the performances of the new integrated system and the traditional integrated systems are compared by simulation method. The results show that within the scope of this study (outdoor temperatures ranging from −30 °C to 10 °C, and radiations from 200 to 800 W/m2), the heat output and coefficient of performance of the new system are higher than those of the existing integrated systems. At an outdoor temperature of −30 °C and a radiation of 500 W/m2, the new system increases heat output by 45.8 % and coefficient of performance by 22.5 % compared with the existing two systems. This research can promote the application of solar energy and air source heat pump heating in cold regions.

Sustainable and Low-Input Techniques in Mediterranean Greenhouse Vegetable Production

In the modern agricultural landscape, numerous challenges, such as climate change, diminishing arable lands, and the reduction of water resources, represent significant threats. The Mediterranean greenhouse farming model relies on low-input strategies to maximize both yield and quality. Its protected horticulture is essential for the year-round cultivation of high-value crops, ensuring efficient and sustainable production. In the realm of future agricultural strategies, leveraging internet-based approaches emerges as a pivotal factor for real-time and remote control of various agricultural parameters crucial for crop growth and development. This approach has the potential to significantly optimize agronomic inputs, thereby enhancing the efficiency of targeted vegetable production. The aim of the present review is to underscore the challenges related to the intensive greenhouse production systems emphasizing various strategies leading to low-input greenhouse vegetable production. The goal is to promote more sustainable and resource-efficient approaches in the cultivation of greenhouse vegetables. This review highlights several key strategies for optimizing the greenhouse environment, including efficient water management through conservation tillage, drainage water reuse, and selecting the most appropriate irrigation systems and timing. Additionally, light modulation and temperature control—using solar energy for heating and pad-and-fan systems for cooling—are crucial for enhancing both crop performance and resource efficiency. The review also explores low-input agronomical strategies, such as pest and disease control—including solarization and optimized integrated pest management (IPM)—as well as fertilization and advanced growing techniques. These approaches are essential for sustainable greenhouse farming.

Design of Mixed-Metal MOF-74-MgNi for Water Adsorption-Driven Solar Thermal Energy Storage and Heat Transformation Applications.

Adsorption solar thermal energy storage and heat transformation are ecologically benign and energy-efficient technologies. Efficient adsorbents are the key to this technology. In this paper, two metal ions, Mg2+ and Ni2+, were introduced into the metal-organic framework MOF-74. The synthesis conditions were adjusted to obtain MOF-74 with a high water adsorption capacity and stability. The results show that MOF-74-MgNi-2 has the maximum water adsorption capacity. At a low moisture pressure P/P0 = 0.1, its water adsorption capacity is 0.44 g/g, 0.12 g/g, and 0.10 g/g greater than that of MOF-74-Mg and MOF-74-Ni, respectively. Its saturated water adsorption capacity at P/P0 = 0.9 is as high as 0.62 g/g, which is 1.3 times that of MOF-74-Ni and 1.1 times that of MOF-74-Mg, respectively. Its superior water adsorption capacity is explained by the combination of experiment and molecular simulation, which takes into account the pore structure and electrostatic potential energy distribution. Its thermal breakdown temperature is greater than 250 °C. Its water adsorption capacity decreases by only 9.0% in the 10th cycle. Under conventional refrigeration conditions, its refrigeration coefficient and working capacity are 0.75 and 0.43 cm3/cm3, respectively, which are greater than those of the majority of the regularly used adsorbents. In addition, it satisfies the primary technological goals of adsorption-based thermal batteries with a heat storage capacity of up to 1394 kJ/kg. The mixed-metal method is shown to be useful in the design of high-performance MOF-74 for solar thermal energy storage and heat transformation.

Ultra-high freshwater production in multistage solar membrane distillation via waste heat injection to condenser

Passive solar membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging technology to alleviate water scarcity. Recently, its performance has been enhanced by multistage design, though the gains are marginal due to constrained temperature and vapor pressure gradients across the device. This makes condenser cooling enhancement a questionable choice. We argue that condenser heating could suppress the marginal effect of multistage solar MD by unlocking the moisture transport limit in all distillation stages. Here, we propose a stage temperature boosting (STB) concept that directs low-temperature heat to the condensers in the last stages, enhancing moisture transport across all stages. Through STB in the last two stages with a heat flux of 250 W m−2, a stage-averaged distillation flux of 1.13 L m−2 h−1 S−1 was demonstrated using an 8-stage MD device under one-sun illumination. This represents an 88% enhancement over the state-of-the-art 10-stage solar MD devices. More notably, our analysis indicates that 16-stage STB-MD devices driven by solar energy and waste heat can effectively compete with existing photovoltaic reverse osmosis (PV-RO) systems, potentially elevating freshwater production with low-temperature heat sources.

Innovative research on hybrid absorption refrigeration system with complementary solar energy and waste heat

Innovative research on hybrid absorption refrigeration system with complementary solar energy and waste heat

Simultaneous close-contact melting on two asymmetric surfaces: Demonstration, modeling and application to thermal storage

The present study deals with melting in a geometry suitable for Latent-Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) systems, which are of importance for future industrial installations utilizing solar energy or waste heat. The intrinsically high thermal resistance of phase-change materials (PCM) can be remedied by taking advantage of close contact melting (CCM), where the solid phase is separated from a hot surface by only a thin liquid layer. The basic CCM takes place on a horizontal flat surface, but during the last decade its application in various finned LHTES units has been demonstrated experimentally and analyzed numerically.Specifically, the configuration studied in the present work is relevant to a horizontal double-pipe concentric storage unit with a longitudinally finned inner tube. While this rather simple geometry has been extensively studied in the past, the present work is completely novel in its demonstration and analysis of simultaneous close-contact melting on two generally asymmetric surfaces created by the longitudinal fins. A unique experimental apparatus is introduced, based on the so-called 'Mercedes' configuration of the fins. It is designed transparent, allowing for real-time observation of melting sequences. Close-contact melting is achieved by supplying heat to the outer shell of the unit: the solid phase is detached from the shell and moves, by translation and rotation, in the liquid phase. The results from these experiments demonstrate the feasibility of CCM on two asymmetric walls within this system, hinting at the potential for optimizing the melting rate by utilizing a larger portion of the extended surface for CCM.A key component of this study is the development of a reliable numerical approach, which goes beyond the limitations of widely-applied enthalpy-porosity method and combines the general enthalpy formulation, convective heat transfer and general rigid body motion that includes rotation. Therefore, a new numerical model has been devised, using an in-house code realized in MATLAB. A full set of the governing conservation equations is solved using a finite-difference framework, integrated with advanced numerical methods for the fluid-solid interaction and an enthalpy formulation for the phase change process. The model is validated carefully, and then numerical studies are conducted to elucidate the melting process.The present paper presents a further proof of the special role that close-contact melting (CCM) can play in properly designed thermal energy storage units and finned systems in general. It is demonstrated that the fins, when properly designed and oriented, can induce CCM in their vicinity, contributing to a very significant increase in the melting rate, which reflects charging of the unit.

Energetic/economic/scalability assessment of active solar energy and waste heat utilization in urban environments for H2/freshwater production: A CSP-centered multigeneration system with dual-loop power generation

The imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has intensified the need for sustainable thermal energy systems. This study addresses this exigency by harnessing solar energy and exploiting waste heat to augment energy efficiency in urban settings. The proposed system integrates a concentrated solar power-based Brayton cycle with dual power generation, water desalination, and hydrogen production capabilities. Comprehensive technical and economic evaluations affirm the feasibility of this system. Additionally, transient codes have been utilized to ascertain the performance of the proposed configuration. The investigation reveals that the tower and receiver are the primary sites of exergy destruction, accounting for 48.1 % of the total, with the heliostat field, reverse osmosis, and proton exchange membrane electrolysis contributing 24 %, 8.8 %, and 6.9 %, respectively. The findings show that increasing the pressure ratio in the Brayton cycle leads to improved exergy efficiency and increased power output, but also leads to higher overall costs. A thorough economic evaluation shows that the solar unit, which includes the receiver, heliostat field, compressor, and gas turbine, is the main factor influencing costs, representing 62.6 % of the total system cost rate. The dynamic study conducted to forecast the annual system capacity in San Francisco indicates that electricity production peaks during summer at 242.15 MWh. Conversely, winter exhibits the lowest contribution at 17.3 % with 143.11 MWh.

Fe/LiNO3/TiN co–modified MgO for enhanced thermochemical energy storage performance in MgO/Mg(OH)2 cycles

MgO/Mg(OH)2 thermochemical energy storage can convert solar energy and industrial waste heat into forms that are easier to store and transport by cyclic hydration/dehydration reactions. To achieve excellent energy storage performance, cyclic stability and optical absorption capability of MgO/Mg(OH)2, Fe/LiNO3/TiN co–modified MgO were synthesized for energy storage cycles by wet-mixing method. The energy storage performance, cyclic stability and dehydration kinetics of Fe/LiNO3/TiN co–modified MgO were studied in dual fixed–bed system and simultaneous thermal analyzer. The experimental results show that the Fe and LiNO3 in the composite not only increase the hydration conversion of MgO by 6.3 times at 30 min, but also reduce the dehydration temperature and dehydration activation energy of Mg(OH)2 by 99.4 °C and 64 %, respectively. TiN overcomes aggregation of MgO and sustains the excellent porous structure, which results in only a 9 % decrease in energy storage performance of Fe/LiNO3/TiN co–modified MgO after 15 energy storage cycles. Subsequently, TiN significantly strengthens the optical absorption performance of Mg(OH)2 and photothermal temperature under xenon-lamp simulated sunlight radiation. Furthermore, density functional theory calculation reveals that Fe and Li enhance the adsorption of H2O on MgO model and reduce energy barrier for hydration reactions by 62.76 %, while TiN effectively inhibits MgO clusters migration within the material and enhances the optical absorption coefficient. Hence, Fe/LiNO3/TiN co–modified MgO shows significant research value in MgO/Mg(OH)2 energy storage process.

Phase change heat storage and enhanced heat transfer based on metal foam under unsteady rotation conditions

Phase change heat storage technology is an essential method for balancing supply and demand in solar energy heat utilization. In this study, a numerical model of the phase change heat storage process is built to explore the impact of non-constant rotation, with and without metal foam. Subsequently, an investigation into the influence of metal foam pore density and porosity on heat storage performance is conducted, with a focus on Taguchi design for statistical analysis. The research delves into the effects of foam parameters on heat storage rate, temperature response, heat storage time, and heat storage properties. Findings reveal significant resolidification in the melting process of this thermal storage structure without metal foam, due to periodic rotation speed hindrance in transferring heat to the outside. Taguchi design results underscore the greater influence of porosity on the melting time and average heat storage rate compared to pore density. Specifically, a reduction in melting time by 62.21 % and 30.49 %, and an increase in average heat storage rate by 237.56 % and 51.19 % is observed when pore density and porosity are 40 PPI and 0.97, compared with the ones with porosities of 0.99 and 0.98, demonstrating minimal impact on total heat absorption.

Heating and energy performances of a dynamic Trombe wall incorporating phase change materials under different operation modes

Dynamic Trombe wall incorporating PCMs (DTWP) is promising for effectively utilizing solar energy and latent heat storage to achieve building energy saving and different operating modes of the DTWP have different functions corresponding to different thermal and energy performances. However, the suitable operation mode for this system is still unclear. Therefore, in this research, the heating and energy performances of the DTWP system with different operation modes and companion static concrete and PCM Trombe walls under a typical winter day in a cold climate were comprehensively investigated using the corresponding CFD model validated by experimental data. The main results are: (1) The DCNC mode(fully closed vents of the thermal storage wall during daytime and nighttime) showed significant decreases in heat loss and good heating performance for the DTWP system; (2) The DCNC mode could extend the time lag and the thermal comfort duration, and showed significantly improved energy saving by 97.6 %; (3) Compared to the DONO mode (opened vents of the thermal storage wall during daytime and nighttime), the DCNC mode could decrease the indoor temperature stratification by 53.7 % and 67.7 % at noon and midnight, respectively; (4) The air velocity near the outer surface of the energy storage wall and the inner surface of the glazing layer is higher than in the other regions at noon and midnight, respectively. The findings would provide guidance for the application and practical operation optimization of DTWP in cold climate regions.

Modeling a solar shading system that controls heat gain by using solar energy to change louver slat angles

In this study, we propose a model for a passive louver system that adjusts slat angles using solar heat energy. The model is structured in two stages: predicting the surface temperature of a solar collector plate and using this temperature to determine the slat angles. The system was installed and monitored in a building in Okinawa, Japan, to validate the model’s accuracy with field measurements. The validation showed that while the model accurately predicted the daily opening and closing times of the louvers, it faced limitations in minute-by-minute variations, making it less suitable for scenarios requiring instantaneous state evaluations, such as lighting environment assessments. Additionally, predicting the temperature for the double-skin façade was challenging and could affect overall model accuracy. Despite these issues, the model effectively achieved its primary goal of predicting annual energy consumption by accurately forecasting the daily opening and closing times of the louvers. The model’s fast computation speed and simplicity make it particularly suitable for annual energy simulations and easy to integrate with existing energy simulation programs. Further research is needed to enhance minute-by-minute reproducibility and integrate temperature predictions for double-skin façades, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of both thermal and lighting environments.

Solar-assisted biogas system with air-source heat pump for the energy-saving of indoor heating in north China

Abstract To address the challenges associated with winter heating in high-latitude regions of China, solar-assisted biogas heating systems have emerged as the predominant focus of research due to their cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and environmentally friendly attributes. However, traditional solar-assisted biogas heating systems encounter issues of low efficiency and limited practicality resulting from unstable solar radiation and extreme ambient temperatures during the heating season. To improve the economy and stability of the system, this study proposed a novel operational control method for a small-scale energy station system in rural regions of North China, named Solar-Biomass-Air Source Heat Pump Hybrid Heating System (SBHP-HHS). The integration of solar energy, biogas energy, and air-source heat pump (ASHP) systems in this proposed work has shown to create effective complementarity and enhances the production efficiency of the existing system. Test and simulation studies have been carried out for this system. The layout of buildings and equipment within a university campus in Beijing is reconfigured and redesigned, incorporating an ASHP into the existing heat source configuration. To begin with, a mathematical model is established for the complementary heating system that incorporates solar energy, a biogas digester, and an ASHP. Subsequently, a dynamic simulation model is developed using the TRNSYS platform, and a corresponding operational control strategy for the multi-energy complementary heating system is proposed. Dynamic simulation and analysis of the newly implemented system are performed using the TRNSYS platform, focusing on energy flow and thermodynamic performance. Throughout the heating season, the solar-biogas integrated system achieves a remarkable assurance rate of up to 79%. Additionally, ASHP maintains a relatively high heating efficiency, coefficient of performance (COP) reaches 3.02. Finally, an economic evaluation of the multi-energy complementary system was conducted based on the annual cost method. This was compared with the clean approach of using only an ASHP unit. The results indicate that the SBHP-HHS is more economical when the anticipated useful life is 6 years or longer. The results indicate that the proposed can achieve significant energy-saving and carbon-reduction benefits in rural areas, catering to their heating needs.

Performance prediction and analysis of a solar assisted medium-deep geothermal heating system

Abstract The solar assisted medium-deep geothermal heating (SAMGH) system is a novel kind of heating system that can combine the benefits of geothermal and solar energy. However, the variations in borehole heat exchanger (BHE) performance and the intermittency of solar energy pose challenges for predicting the overall performance of the coupled system and designing the operational strategies. To conduct simulation on the SAMGH system for performance prediction and analysis, a coaxial medium-deep borehole heat exchanger coupled with the solar energy heating system for an office building in Xi’an was developed. The TRNSYS software was employed to establish the model of the coupled system. A ground source heat pump (GSHP) heating system was used for comparison. The simulation results showed that with the introduction of the solar energy and heat storage modules, the annual operating time of the geothermal system only accounts for 32.06%. The energy consumption of the coupled system can be reduced from 63585 kW to 44586 kW, and the energy consumption proportion of the geothermal system in total value decreased from 69.10% to 40.58%. Therefore, the average coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pump and the system were improved by 63.71% and 91.77%, respectively. Moreover, because the solar energy is beneficial to the ground heat recovery, the average ground temperature increased from 42.5 °C to 43.88 °C after ten years of operation. The proposed design method and simulation results can serve as a reference for design method and performance analysis of the geothermal and solar coupled system.

Analyzing the Interactions among Barriers to the Use of Solar Energy for Heating in Residential Buildings in Van, Türkiye

In terms of environmental sustainability, the barriers—and interactions between these barriers—to the use of solar energy for active and passive heating in residential buildings stem from location-specific housing production patterns and the actors involved in these patterns. A clear definition of hierarchies and priorities between barriers helps managers set strategic priorities and action plans to find solutions. After the earthquake in Van in 2011, 6000 hectares of land were opened for new development, and research using the sampling method discovered that the most common type of housing production in the city is the build-to-sell housing production method. The actors involved in build-to-sell housing production are technical staff, local–central administrations, entrepreneurs, end users, landowners, financial companies, non-governmental organizations, and building inspection institutions. This article examines the barriers to the use of solar energy for active and passive heating purposes, the interactions between these barriers using ISM and MICMAC methods, and the build-to-sell housing production method and actors. Barriers were identified through a literature review and semi-structured interviews. The barriers were further categorized under eight main headings according to their subject matter. The hierarchies of barriers in creating problems and solutions were determined using ISM and MICMAC methods and the findings were interpreted. In the City of Van, with regard to the houses produced via the build-to-sell production method, the barriers against the use of solar energy for heating purposes in houses considering active and passive methods are ranked in order of priority in creating the problem and the solution. Barriers caused by political and administrative issues are ranked first; barriers caused by social awareness and end users are ranked second; barriers caused by social and sociological events are ranked third; barriers caused by laws and regulations are ranked fourth; barriers caused by the knowledge, skills, and awareness of designers are ranked fifth; barriers caused by deficiencies in technical issues are ranked sixth; and barriers caused by economic and financial issues are ranked seventh. Even though the barrier caused by the working mode of build-to-sell productions is the largest in creating the problem, it is the least effective barrier to solving the problem in the ISM hierarchical and MICMAC schemes. The research process is presented in the Methods section.

Performance Analysis and Optimization of Solar-Coupled Mine Water-Source Heat Pump Combined Heating and Cooling System

To address the energy consumption issue in mining area buildings, this paper proposed a solar-coupled mine water-source heat pump combined heating and cooling (SMWHP-CHC) system, taking the employee dormitory building group of a coal mining enterprise in Tongchuan City, China, as a case study. The system utilizes renewable solar energy and waste heat recovered from mine water as composite heat sources, and utilizes the cold energy in mine water as a cooling source to meet the demands for space heating, space cooling, and annual domestic hot water of the building in a sustainable manner. The simulation model of the system was established by TRNSYS to analyze the system’s annual operational performance. The results indicated that the system exhibited a positive energy efficiency and environmental performance under different operating conditions. The heating coefficients of the performance of the system (COPsys) during the space heating season and transition season were 3.54 and 18.6, and the cooling energy efficiency ratio of the system (EERsys) was 3.79. In addition, aiming to minimize the annual cost of the system, multiple crucial device parameters were synchronously optimized employing the PSO-HJ hybrid optimization algorithm through the GenOpt 2 software. The annual cost of the optimized system was reduced by 8.82%, and the investment cost was significantly reduced, while the performance was also improved. This study can provide theoretical support for the sustainable engineering application of the SMWHP-CHC system in mining area buildings.

Carbon emission reduction in public buildings of extreme cold regions: A study on enclosure structure and HVAC system parameter optimization

AbstractThe implementation of strategies aimed at curtailing energy consumption and carbon emissions in buildings is of paramount importance. Priority should be accorded to the reduction of embodied carbon emissions from construction materials and operational carbon emissions during the usage phase. A public building situated in an extremely cold region is chosen as the subject of this study. An initial investigation is conducted into the impact of various enclosure structure materials on embodied carbon. The impact of different heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems on the total carbon emissions of public buildings are studied as well. The findings indicate that the amalgamation of W3 + R + G4 + H4 culminates in the least total carbon emissions. Upon establishing the foundational scheme for the public building, an optimization (nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II [NSGA II] and Criteria Importance Through Intercrieria Correlation [CRITIC]) of the enclosure structure parameters is initiated to examine the optimal parameters of the public building's enclosure structure. The findings reveal that a decrease in the heat transfer coefficient could trigger an increase in total carbon emissions. This is attributed to the fact that the carbon emissions embodied in the production process of these materials could potentially outweigh the reduction observed in operational carbon emissions. Further adjustments were also made to the parameters of the HVAC system in the buildings. The findings indicate that within the context of public buildings, given the presence of optimal parameters and an HVAC system that utilizes solar energy for both heating and cooling in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air‐Conditioning Engineers, Inc. 6 A climatic zone, the efficiency of the cooling system can exert a significant influence on the operations carbon emissions reduction.

Photosynthetıc Energy Nanogenerators

Photosynthetıc Energy Nanogenerators

Solar Energy's Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Agriculture

The adoption of solar energy in agriculture has the potential to significantly contribute to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean energy access (SDG 7), sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13). This review article examines the various applications of solar energy in agricultural practices, including irrigation, crop drying, greenhouse heating, and powering farm machinery. It analyzes the economic, environmental, and social benefits of transitioning to solar-powered agriculture, such as reduced reliance on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy security, and increased income for farmers. The article also discusses the challenges and barriers to widespread adoption, including high upfront costs, lack of awareness and technical expertise among farmers, and inadequate policy support. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and case studies, this article highlights the immense potential of solar energy in transforming the agricultural sector and contributing to sustainable development. It concludes by emphasizing the need for concerted efforts from governments, international organizations, and the private sector to promote and facilitate the integration of solar energy in agriculture, particularly in developing countries where access to clean energy and sustainable farming practices are most crucial for achieving the SDGs.