Solar Photovoltaic Technologies: From Inception Toward the Most Reliable Energy Resource

The ever-increasing global energy needs due to continual population growth, imminent depletion of fossil fuels, as well as mitigating environmental pollutions around the globe have compelled mankind to search for alternatives in recent years. Among many known alternatives, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has undoubtedly proven itself worth as one of the mainstream renewable energy resources for its various merits. Solar photovoltaic technology is capable to fit into any requirements with freedom in scalability from milli-watt to almost giga-watt range of demand and response. In years, solar PV technology has shown its inherent potential with versatility in material usage, diversified capability in energy production, as well as sustainability with minimal or almost no adverse environmental effect. This chapter will present the chronological history of the most potential solar PV technologies from the discovery of the science as “photovoltaic PV effect” through the journey of the technological development toward becoming the most reliable energy resource of the near future.