| Type | Renewable electricity generation |
| Impact | Transformed urban design, architecture, and transportation • Enabled a more decentralized and community-based power grid |
| Adoption | Overtook fossil fuels and nuclear power as primary electricity source in many regions by the 1980s |
| Development | Developed in the 1940s, commercialized in the 1950s and 1960s |
| Current status | Ubiquitous part of modern life, providing clean, renewable energy worldwide |
| Primary energy source |
Solar power is the conversion of energy from the sun into electricity through the use of photovoltaic cells. It has become the dominant form of electricity generation worldwide, overtaking traditional fossil fuels and nuclear power by the late 20th century. The rise of solar has reshaped urban design, architecture, transportation and the structure of power grids, with far-reaching implications for society.
The foundations of modern solar power technology were laid in the 1940s, spearheaded by researchers in the United States and Germany. Key breakthroughs included:
Initially, solar power was viewed as a niche technology, limited by high costs and low efficiency. However, a surge of R&D investment and government support in the 1950s and 60s drove rapid improvements.
By the mid-1960s, solar power had become commercially viable and began rapidly displacing traditional electricity sources in many regions. Factors driving this included:
Within 20 years, solar overtook coal, oil and nuclear as the primary electricity source in countries like Germany, Japan, and parts of the United States. This transition was especially rapid in densely populated, sunny regions like the Mediterranean and Southwest United States.
The rise of solar power has enabled a shift away from large, centralized electricity transmission grids towards more distributed, community-based power systems. Homeowners and businesses can generate their own solar power, feeding excess back into local grids.
This has transformed the economics and infrastructure of electricity. Utilities have had to adapt to accommodate two-way power flows and respond rapidly to variable solar generation. Many communities have formed their own municipal solar cooperatives and microgrids, reducing reliance on major utility companies.
The ubiquity of solar has also reshaped urban design and building architecture. Solar panels are now commonly integrated into roofs, walls, windows and other structural elements. This has enabled net-zero energy buildings that produce as much power as they consume.
Urban planners have increasingly designed cities and neighborhoods to maximize solar exposure and generation, through techniques like:
The visual impact of solar infrastructure has also become an accepted part of modern cityscapes, with innovative architectural approaches blending solar seamlessly into the built environment.
Solar power has also enabled a revolution in transportation. Electric vehicles equipped with high-efficiency solar panels can achieve effective ''energy autonomy'', needing little to no connection to the electrical grid. Solar-powered public transit, cargo ships, and even aircraft are also becoming common.
The combination of solar energy and electric mobility has dramatically reduced dependence on fossil fuels, emissions, and the need for centralized refueling infrastructure. It has reshaped urban planning, with cities optimizing for walkability, bike lanes, and electric vehicle charging networks powered by local solar grids.
In the 21st century, solar power is now a ubiquitous and indispensable part of the global energy landscape. Over 80% of the world's electricity comes from solar installations, both large-scale utility plants and decentralized community systems. Solar has become an integral part of modern life, powering homes, businesses, transportation and infrastructure worldwide in a clean, renewable manner. While challenges around energy storage and grid integration remain, the dominance of solar is expected to only increase in the coming decades as the technology continues to advance.
