Linking energy crises and solar energy in China: a roadmap towards environmental sustainability

Fossil fuels are the primary energy sources of China, which are not only expensive but have adverse environmental impacts. To cope with this situation, the Chinese government wants to fulfil 25% of its energy consumption by non-fossil fuels by 2030. In this perspective, we selected the solar sources of the country and collected solar irradiation data for one year in the six big cities of China in 2022. For the analysis of data and assessing the effectiveness of photovoltaic (PV), RETScreen and MATLAB were utilized. A further step was taken by performing the life cycle assessment (LCA) to scrutinize the different features of solar energy, including fuel consumption, price, average lifetime, maintenance and operation expenses, land requirements, and greenhouse gas emissions. Results reveal that all these cities have enormous solar power potential. However, the highest solar power (0.27 kW) is generated in Nanchang city, while the lowest power (0.21 kW) is generated in Sanya city. Solar energy is durable and has a good average lifespan but can be costly, as PV panels lose efficiency due to dust and pollution. The regular cleaning of PV panels, in turn, demands substantial cost. Based on research results, significant policy suggestions have been recommended to fulfil the country’s energy demand on its way to a future of sustainable development.