International Journal of Renewable Energy Development
Vol 15, No 4 (2026): July 2026

Machine learning in solar energy systems: Methods, applications, and future directions

Hoang Dat Do (Institute of Engineering, HUTECH University, Ho Chi Minh City)
Raghav Kumar Thakur (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University, Delhi)
Xuan Manh Dinh (Faculty of Engineering, Dong Nai Technology University, Dong Nai)
Do Duong Lam Le (Hanoi Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, Hanoi)
Minh Thai Vu (Institute of Maritime, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, Ho Chi Minh City)
Van Quy Nguyen (Institute of Maritime, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, Ho Chi Minh City)
Ngoc Doanh Le (Logistics Center, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, Ho Chi Minh City)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jul 2026

Abstract

In the present era, the ever-growing need for energy and the greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning have become a real challenge. Solar energy is an attractive option among various options available in renewable energy domain.  Solar energy systems are rapidly expanding, and that growth brings real challenges as they need to face challenges such as unpredictable output, constant changes, and complex operations. To handle these challenges and for smoother operation, Machine Learning (ML) can be useful as it can handle a large amount of data and keep everything running smoothly. In this review, a comprehensive overview of applying ML to solar energy is presented. The review will explore the working of existing ML techniques, covering both conventional as well as modern approaches. The key application areas are identified, ranging from forecasting and optimization to fault detection and energy management in integrated grids. It also discusses some important barriers like data inconsistency, the black-box nature of conventional ML models, and the difficulty in scaling up to real-world settings. On the brighter side, the review points to some exciting new directions like explainable AI, physics-informed learning, and real-time analytics. It is observed that it is a rapidly evolving field with marked shifting toward ML tools that are more flexible, explainable, and can be tuned into the bigger system. Overall, this review provides a combined and forward-looking perspective, offering actionable insights for the development of robust, scalable, and practically deployable ML solutions in solar energy systems.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijred

Publisher

Subject

Control & Systems Engineering Earth & Planetary Sciences Electrical & Electronics Engineering Energy Engineering

Description

The International Journal of Renewable Energy Development - (Int. J. Renew. Energy Dev.; p-ISSN: 2252-4940; e-ISSN:2716-4519) is an open access and peer-reviewed journal co-published by Center of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE) that aims to promote renewable energy researches and developments, ...