From 1% to 40%: How Solar Cells Learned to Harvest the Sun

Energy Timelines Photovoltaic

A timeline from the U.S. Energy Information Administration traces photovoltaic evolution: from early cells converting under 1% of light to today's 40% efficiency. Key milestones include Bell Labs' 6% silicon cell in the 1950s, the first building-integrated PV system in 1980, and Boeing Spectrolab's 40% HEMM cell in 2007. It highlights the roles of space programs, oil crises, and government policies in driving solar innovation.