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Solar Power

More energy from the sun falls on the earth in one hour than is used by the world in one year. This substantial, renewable resource provides countries with an effective means of generating electricity and providing heating and cooling, and lighting. From small to large scale, solar energy can be harnessed through a variety of technologies and building design approaches that save energy, minimize environmental impacts and reduce operational costs. Countries have employed an array of mandates, incentives and deployment programs to promote the use of solar power. This page provides access to technical resources that policymakers can use to inform the design and implementation of policies and programs to advance deployment of solar power technologies.

Before you begin your search for solar policy resources, you can learn more about solar power development by reading our policy brief on solar power, which outlines good practices, provides design considerations, and shares examples of solar power in action in various countries.

Resources CESC

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Resources countries

Publication

Investment opportunities for utility-scale solar and wind areas: El Salvador

This report summarises IRENA analysis to identify favourable zones in El Salvador for utility-scale solar PV and onshore wind projects,…

Sources:

International Renewable Energy Agency

Date:

1 May 2024

Publication

Tools and Websites

Training Materials

2010 China-United States Renewable Energy Grid Integration Workshop (Website)

This website provides 16 presentations from a workshop held in Beijing, 7-8 December 2010, as well as a workshop summary.…

Sources:

The China Sustainable Energy Program

Deployment Data

Publication

A New Scheme for the Promotion of Renewable Energies in Developing Countries: The Renewable Energy Regulated Purchase Tariff

This report sets out the main findings of discussions carried out by the Developing Countries Group of the European Photovoltaic…

Sources:

European Commission

Alliance for Rural Electrification

PhotoVoltaic Technology Platform

Publication

A Word on Low Cost Renewables: The Renewables Breakthrough: How to Secure Low Cost Renewables

Renewable energy has become the least-expensive energy choice in many parts of the world, leading to a powerful feedback cycle…

Sources:

Agora Energiewende

Publication

Agrivoltaic Systems to Optimise Land Use for Electric Energy Production

In this work, a patented “agrivoltaic” solar tracking system named Agrovoltaico is examined in combination with a maize crop in…

Sources:

Applied Energy

Date:

15 June 2018

Publication

Agrivoltaic Potential on Grape Farms in India

To investigate and quantify PV generation potential, without significantly harming agriculture output, the authors of this study explore the viability…

Sources:

Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments

Date:

1 October 2017

Training Materials

American Samoa’s Solar+Storage Microgrid

The island of Ta’u in the U.S. territory of American Samoa relied heavily on diesel generation to meet its electricity…

Sources:

Clean Energy Group

Resilient Power

Date:

16 February 2017

Publication

An Overview of Behind-The Meter Solar-Plus-Storage Regulatory Design: Approaches and Case Studies to Inform International Applications

This report is intended to offer key regulatory considerations for facilitating distributed solar photovoltaic (DPV)-plus-storage programs for retail customers. It…

Sources:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Date:

1 March 2020

Deployment Data

Publication

Tools and Websites

Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (Website)

The Asia Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate Website enables users to view current and past APP clean…

Sources:

Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate

Publication

Tools and Websites

Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy (Website)

Ashden champions and promotes practical, local energy solutions that cut carbon, protect the environment, reduce poverty, and improve people’s lives.…

Sources:

Ashden

Publication

Aquavoltaics: Synergies for Dual Use of Water Area for Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Generation and Aquaculture

This paper reviews the fields of floatovoltaic technology (i.e., water-deployed solar photovoltaic systems) and aquaculture (i.e., farming of aquatic organisms)…

Sources:

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Date:

1 December 2017

Publication

Background Study: Developing a Legal Instrument for Gender Assessments in Energy Infrastructure Planning and Development within ECOWAS

The study seeks to set the stage for the creation and adoption of an ECOWAS regional legal instrument for conducting…

Sources:

ECOWAS Observatory for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

Publication

Tools and Websites

Training Materials

BASE Renewable Energy Training Kits

The BASE Renewable Energy Training Kits are designed to help insurers, financiers, and other renewable energy project sponsors better understand…

Sources:

United Nations

Tools and Websites

Big Dish Solar (Website)

This website provides information related to the SG4 Big Dish solar project, concentrating solar power, and solar energy technology. It…

Sources:

Keith Lovegrove

Publication

Boosting Solar PV Markets: The Role of Quality Infrastructure

Significant growth in the amount of installed solar PV can be attributed in large part to the continued decrease in…

Sources:

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Tools and Websites

Building Energy Software Tools Directory

This directory provides information on hundreds of building software tools for evaluating energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability in buildings.…

Sources:

United States Department of Energy

Policy Data

Publication

Tools and Websites

Capacity Building for the Rapid Commercialization of Renewable Energy

This case study highlights China’s activities to overcome challenges in capacity, financing, policy, technology, and information with regard to renewable…

Sources:

World Bank

Publication

Charge Without a Cause? Assessing Electric Utility Demand Charges on Small Consumers, Electricity Rate Design Review Paper No. 1

The goal of this document is to unpack the key elements of demand charges and explore their effect on fairness,…

Sources:

Solar Energy Industries Association