Social Sustainability as a Main Driver for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals through Solar Energy

This research focuses on promoting the concept of social sustainability and highlighting its role in achieving sustainable development goals through the use of solar energy, which is considered one of the most important renewable energy sources. Solar energy contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, carbon waste, and noise, thereby mitigating the effects of climate change. The research is based on the fact that Iraq possesses traditional energy resources such as crude oil and natural gas; however, these resources are non-renewable and subject to depletion. Continued reliance on them causes environmental damage and places a burden on future generations. The theoretical framework reviews previous literature related to social sustainability as an approach to achieving sustainable development, while the practical aspect includes collecting data on the installation and maintenance costs of solar energy systems, monthly and annual electricity consumption for a sample of households, as well as an agricultural model represented by an irrigation system. The aim is to evaluate the economic feasibility of using solar energy systems over a ten-year period compared with conventional energy sources. The study seeks to clarify the relationship between social sustainability and the application of solar energy systems in achieving sustainable development goals, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with this relationship. The research reached several conclusions, most notably enhancing community empowerment through job creation and local stability, and supporting environmental sustainability by reducing emissions and increasing shaded areas, which helps lower temperatures within residential communities, even relatively. The study also found that the main challenges facing solar energy projects are lack of funding and weak public awareness of their importance. This research represents a general framework that can be developed and adapted to local conditions and usage levels, while emphasizing the need to consult specialists in the design and engineering aspects to ensure effective and accurate implementation.