The Positive Influence of Increased Solar Panel Adoption and Subsequent Health Benefits
Abstract:
The relationship between escalating global temperatures, public climate change awareness, and the adoption of renewable energy technologies is increasingly critical for planetary and public health outcomes. This paper inves tigates the central hypothesis that increasing global temperatures (proxied by the year) positively affect the sales of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and the overall number of people considering purchasing them. Utilizing a global panel dataset covering 1990 to 2023, the study operationalized solar demand as Global Annual New Solar PV Ca pacity (Megawatts). Time-series analysis revealed an exponential correlation (R^2 > 0.95) between the year (as a proxy for thermal and awareness increases) and solar adoption, with annual capacity surging from negligible levels in the early 1990s to over 325.6 Gigawatts (GW) by 2023. This finding confirms the direct influence of growing cli mate urgency on energy transition dynamics. Furthermore, the paper synthesizes extant scholarly literature to argue that this rapid solar expansion is critical for the future of mankind, projecting significant reductions in ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides) generated by fossil fuels. By displacing coal and gas generation, solar adoption yields substantial co-benefits, including reduced incidence of chronic respiratory diseases and avoided premature mortality, transforming solar PV from merely an energy solution into a global public health strategy.
