Inorganic Photovoltaic Solar Cells: Silicon and Beyond

Abstract

Photovoltaic solar cells tap into sunlight—the most abundant renewable energy source on the Earth—for electricity. Our planet receives ∼1.2×1017 W of solar power, while the rate of current worldwide energy consumption is ∼10,000 times smaller at ∼1.3×1013 W. This means that the Earth receives more solar energy in an hour than the total energy it consumes in an entire year. Solar energy alone has the capacity to meet all the planet’s energy needs for the foreseeable future.