Photovoltaics for the new millennium

摘要

"Photovoltaics", the direct conversion of sunlight to electricity using solar cells, has the potential to transform the way we think about energy during the first few decades of the new millennium. By the end of the first decade, under existing government programs, photovoltaics is expected to be on the roofs of over three million urban residences around the world. The corresponding industrial stimulation is expected to transform the photovoltaic industry from this present "boutique" status to a major energy provider. The paper describes the technological and policy developments driving this transformation and their implications.