Solar Energy in 2025: Global Deployment, Cost Trends, and the Role of Energy Storage in Enabling a Resilient Smart Energy Infrastructure

Abstract

The global energy landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation since 2021, with solar photovoltaic (PV) technology emerging as the cornerstone of decarbonization efforts. This study provides a comprehensive and forward-looking analysis of solar deployment trends, cost dynamics, and the integration of energy storage as a resilience enabler in smart energy systems. This work offers a comprehensive synthesis of multi-dimensional drivers—technological innovation, policy frameworks, and market dynamics—and quantifies their combined impact on cost competitiveness and grid stability, advancing beyond the scope of previous studies that often treat these factors in isolation. We highlight the unprecedented convergence of ultra-low levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), hybrid solar-plus-storage adoption, and digital grid solutions, supported by recent data from IRENA, Lazard, and BloombergNEF. Furthermore, we introduce a conceptual framework linking storage deployment to grid flexibility and resilience, offering actionable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders. By integrating technical, economic, and policy perspectives, this paper advances the discourse on achieving net-zero targets and positions solar energy as the backbone of a resilient, equitable, and digitally optimized energy future.

Keywords

energy storage / grid integration / LCOE / renewable energy policy / solar PV

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2026 The Author(s). Energy & Environmental Materials published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Zhengzhou University.