The Silent Revolution Continues

The reliability and versatility of photovoltaics whereby solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity have impressed many in the power and telecommunications industries. Twenty years ago, institutions such as the World Bank knew little about photovoltaics. Now the Bank and many other world power brokers view solar cells as having “an important and growing part in providing electrical services in the rural areas of the developing world.” In telecommunications, these same agencies believe that only photovoltaics offers “a real practical possibility of reliable rural telecommunication for general use.” Opportunities in the developed world abound as well. The growing concern over global warming promises to transform photovoltaics into a major energy producer, allowing everyone the benefits of electricity without doing harm to our home, planet earth.