The purpose of this article is to understand the state of art of photovoltaic solar energy through a systematic literature research, in which the following themes are approached: ways of obtaining the energy, its advantages and disadvantages, applications, current market, costs and technologies according to what has been approached in the scientific researches published until 2016. For this research, we performed a qualitative and quantitative approach with a non-probabilistic sample size, obtaining 142 articles published since 1996–2016 with a slitting cut. The analysis result of this research shows that studies about photovoltaic energy are rising and may perform an important role in reaching a high-energy demand around the world. To increase the participation of photovoltaic energy in the renewable energy market requires, first, to raise awareness regarding its benefits; to increase the research and development of new technologies; to implement public policies a programs that will encourage photovoltaic energy generation. Although crystal silicon solar cells were predominant, other types of cells have been developed, which can compete, both in terms of cost reduction of production, or in terms of greater efficiency. The main applications are dominated by telecommunications, water pumping, public lighting, BIPV, agriculture, water heating, grain drying, water desalination, space vehicles and satellites. The studies found on photovoltaic solar energy are all technical, thus creating the need for future research related to the economic viability, chain supply coordination, analysis of barriers and incentives to photovoltaic solar energy and deeper studies about the factors that influence the position of such technologies in the market.