[Solar Energy] Photovoltaic Technology

Since the first fabricated device at Bell Laboratories in the early 1950s, photovoltaic technology has made giant steps towards higher efficiency, low cost and reliability. The third-generation of solar cells have been developed and nowadays a rooftop solar panel is a common feature in lots of houses and buildings. However, research still goes on, facing the quest of plenty of energy available at very low costs. This article examines the situation to date.