The Solar Generation: Early History of Terrestrial Photovoltaics

Overview

The Solar Generation: Childhood and Adolescence of Terrestrial Photovoltaics is a 2018 book authored by Philip R. Wolfe, published jointly by John Wiley & Sons and the IEEE. The work provides a detailed historical account of the early development of the solar power sector, specifically focusing on the period between 1973 and 1999. This timeframe represents what the author characterizes as the "childhood and adolescence" of terrestrial photovoltaics, marking the transition from initial experimental applications to a more structured industrial sector.

The book examines the technological, economic, and policy-driven factors that shaped the photovoltaic industry during these formative decades. By concentrating on the years following the 1973 oil crisis and leading up to the turn of the millennium, the text captures the critical evolution of solar technology as it moved from niche applications to broader terrestrial deployment. The publication serves as a reference for understanding the foundational era of solar energy infrastructure and market development.

Historical Context and Scope

The book The Solar Generation: Childhood and Adolescence of Terrestrial Photovoltaics focuses on a critical historical window in energy infrastructure development, specifically the period between 1973 and 1999 (Wiley & IEEE, 2018). This era is characterized by the author as the formative "childhood and adolescence" of the solar power sector, marking the transition from experimental curiosity to a structured industrial base. The text examines how terrestrial photovoltaics (PV) established its technical and economic foundations during these decades, setting the stage for later global expansion.

Initial Market and Technical Discounting

During the early years covered by the text, solar power faced significant skepticism within the broader energy landscape. The author details how the technology was initially discounted by many industry stakeholders who viewed it as a niche or supplementary source rather than a primary energy carrier. This period saw the struggle to define the role of PV in a grid dominated by established fossil fuel and nuclear technologies. The book analyzes the specific technical and economic barriers that led to this discounting, providing context for the slow initial adoption rates observed in the 1970s and 1980s.

Scope: Terrestrial vs. Space and Thermal

A key aspect of the book's analysis is its strict focus on terrestrial photovoltaic applications. The text explicitly excludes space applications, which had historically been the primary driver of early PV innovation, as well as solar thermal and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies. By isolating terrestrial PV, the author provides a clearer picture of the specific challenges and milestones unique to the photovoltaic sector on Earth. This distinction helps clarify the technological lineage and market dynamics that shaped the modern solar industry, separate from the parallel developments in solar thermal energy and space-based power systems.

Author's Predictions and Sector Evolution

The work also reviews the author's predictions regarding the trajectory of the solar power sector. These forecasts are evaluated against the actual developments that occurred during the 1973–1999 timeframe. The text highlights how the "adolescence" of the sector was marked by increasing technical maturity and gradual cost reductions, validating some early projections while revealing unexpected hurdles. This retrospective analysis offers insights into how the initial assumptions about solar energy's potential were refined over time, contributing to a deeper understanding of the sector's historical evolution.

What are the main themes of the book?

Origins and Technological Foundations

The initial chapters focus on the origins of terrestrial photovoltaics, examining the technological advancements that defined the era. The text details the specific technologies developed during this period, highlighting the engineering and scientific breakthroughs that enabled solar power to become viable for terrestrial applications. This includes an analysis of the research efforts that underpinned these technological shifts, providing a technical foundation for understanding the sector’s growth.

Applications and Economic Context

Subsequent sections address the practical applications of solar photovoltaics during these decades. The book explores how these technologies were deployed in various contexts, shaping the early market for solar energy. This discussion is complemented by an examination of the economics of the sector, analyzing the financial dynamics and cost structures that influenced adoption rates and investment decisions during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

Industry, Politics, and Future Generations

The narrative further expands to cover the business landscape and the key industry participants who drove the sector forward. It details the corporate strategies and market forces that shaped the early solar industry. Additionally, the text integrates the role of geo-politics, exploring how international relations and policy decisions impacted the development of solar power. The section concludes by looking toward the next generation of solar technology and industry trends, setting the stage for the subsequent phases of the sector’s history.

Key Figures and Organizations in Early PV

Profiles of Pioneers and Institutions

The encyclopaedia details the contributions of key individuals who drove innovation in solar cell efficiency, manufacturing processes, and market adoption. These profiles cover researchers who advanced silicon wafer technology and engineers who optimized module design. The section also examines the role of major corporations that scaled production, transforming PV from a niche space-age technology into a viable terrestrial energy source.

Research institutions and government agencies are analyzed for their impact on funding, standardization, and policy. The text highlights how collaborations between academia and industry accelerated the learning curve of the sector. These entities provided the critical infrastructure for testing, certification, and deployment strategies that underpinned the industry's growth during the late 20th century.

Summary of Key Participants

The following table summarizes the counts of people, companies, and institutions profiled in Part II. These figures reflect the breadth of the network involved in the childhood and adolescence of terrestrial photovoltaics.

The encyclopaedia serves as a reference for understanding the human and organizational capital behind the solar power sector's early development. By documenting these contributions, the book preserves the historical record of the innovations and strategies that established the foundation for modern solar energy infrastructure.

Reference Materials and Structure

The work incorporates substantial reference materials designed to support both scholarly analysis and technical lookup. Part III is structured as a comprehensive dictionary, providing definitions and contextual explanations for key terms within the field of terrestrial photovoltaics. This section serves as a foundational resource for readers seeking precise terminology related to solar power generation, module technology, and system integration during the period covered by the book. The inclusion of a glossary ensures that specialized jargon is accessible to a broad audience, including engineers, historians, and energy analysts. The dictionary format allows for quick reference, facilitating a deeper understanding of the technological evolution described in the earlier parts of the text. This encyclopedic approach reinforces the book’s role as a definitive record of the solar power sector’s formative years.

The publication also includes a detailed bibliography, listing the primary and secondary sources consulted during the research and writing process. This section provides readers with a pathway to further exploration, offering citations that span academic journals, industry reports, and historical documents. The acknowledgements section recognizes the contributions of individuals and institutions that supported the creation of the work, highlighting the collaborative nature of documenting such a complex technological history. The indexes provided in the book enable efficient navigation through the text, allowing users to locate specific topics, names, and technical terms with ease. These reference tools collectively enhance the utility of the book as a long-term resource for researchers and practitioners in the solar energy field.

Significance

The publication of The Solar Generation: Childhood and Adolescence of Terrestrial Photovoltaics in 2018 represents a critical intervention in the historiography of renewable energy. By documenting the period between 1973 and 1999, the work captures the formative decades of the solar power sector, a timeframe often characterized by technological experimentation and economic volatility. This era is significant not merely for the introduction of terrestrial photovoltaics, but for the institutional and cultural shifts that allowed solar energy to transition from a niche alternative to a foundational component of the global energy mix. The book serves as a primary record of the sector's early years, preserving details that might otherwise be lost to the rapid pace of subsequent technological advancement and market consolidation.

Preserving the History of an Emerging Sector

During the period covered by the text, solar energy was frequently dismissed as an "irrelevance" in the broader energy landscape, overshadowed by the dominance of fossil fuels and nuclear power. The documentation of this era is vital for understanding how a technology once considered peripheral managed to establish a foothold. The work highlights the struggles and breakthroughs of the early solar power sector, providing context for the predictions that solar would eventually become the world's largest energy source. By focusing on the years 1973 to 1999, the analysis captures the critical "childhood and adolescence" phases where foundational technologies were refined, early markets were tested, and the initial policy frameworks were established. This historical record is essential for engineers, researchers, and analysts who seek to understand the roots of modern solar infrastructure.

From Irrelevance to Global Dominance

The narrative of the solar power sector is one of dramatic transformation. The book underscores the contrast between the early perceptions of solar energy and its later trajectory toward global dominance. In the decades following 1973, the sector faced significant skepticism, yet it persisted through innovation and strategic adoption. The documentation of this period provides insight into the factors that drove this change, including technological improvements, cost reductions, and shifting energy policies. The prediction that solar would become the world's largest energy source was not immediately obvious to contemporaries, but the historical record preserved in the text illustrates the incremental progress that made this outcome possible. This perspective is crucial for current and future energy planners, offering lessons on how emerging technologies can overcome initial market and cultural barriers to achieve widespread adoption.

The significance of The Solar Generation lies in its ability to contextualize the rapid growth of solar power within a longer historical arc. By preserving the history of a field that was once considered marginal, the work ensures that the contributions of early innovators and the challenges of the formative years are not forgotten. This historical awareness is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the global energy transition, providing a foundation for analyzing the current state and future potential of solar energy infrastructure.

See also

• Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa
• PV Micro-Inverter Topology Using LLC Resonant Converter
• Quest Carbon Capture and Storage Project
• IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation
• Small hydro energy diagram