From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity

"From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity" tracks the evolution of photovoltaics--the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity via solar cells--from its nineteenth-century beginnings through its success in the space program to its current position as an indispensable, versatile, and largely unrecognized power generator. Perlin details PV's early adoption by the telecommunications, transportation, and oil industries. He examines the spread of solar electricity in both the developed and developing world--from Mali to Manhattan, the South Pacific to Switzerland, the American countryside to the Australian outback. And he tells these stories through the individuals who made them happen, the people who started us down the path to our photovoltaic future.After years of painstaking research, John Perlin has written "the solar success story."