Since 1954, the launch of the first practical photovoltaic cells, solar photovoltaic power generation has made considerable progress. However, its development is much slower when compared with the computer and the optical fiber communication. The reason of this may be the people’s strong desire to pursue of information, and also, the conventional sources can meet human needs. The 1973 oil crisis and 90’s environmental pollution problems have substantially expedited the development of solar photovoltaic power generation. The development process can be summarized below:

In1893, the French scientist Becquerel discovered “Photovoltaic effect”.

In 1876, Adams discovered solid state Photovoltaic effect.

In the year1883, the first selenium cell as the Sensitive Apparatus was made.

In the year 1930, Schottky proposed the Photovoltaic effect theory of Cu2O Potential barrier. In the same year, Lange first proposed making solar battery.

In the year 1931, Bruno put copper compounds and selenium silver electrode immersed into electrolyte, and started a motor in the sun.

In the year1932, Odu Bot and Stola produced the first "CdS" solar cell.

In the year1941，Orr found the photovoltaic effect in silicon.

In the year 1954，in the Bell Laboratories in the United States, Qiabin and Pearson first made a practical single-crystal solar cell, efficiency of 6%. That same year, Wijckel discovered initially the photovoltaic effect in gallium arsenide, and deposition of CdS thin films on glass. The first thin-film solar cell was made.

In1955, Gini and Rawsk streamlined the designof materials’ photoelectric conversion efficiency. In the same year, the first photoelectric beacon launched. U.S. RCA researched gallium arsenide solar cells.

In the year1957, the efficiency of silicon solar cell achieved up to 8%.

In the year1958, Solar cells for the first time applied in space, and equipped in the power supply of U.S. satellite Vanguard-1.

In the year1959, the first advent of polycrystalline silicon solar cells attained the efficiency up to 5%.

In the year1960, silicon solar cells for the first time applied in the Grid.

In the year1962, GaAs solar cells conversion efficiency arrived at 13%.

In the year1969, CdS thin film solar cell efficiency reached 8%.

In the year1972, Luo developed a purple cell with efficiency up to 16%.

In the year1972, BSF cell was first made in U.S. Aerospace.

In the year1973, the efficiency of GaAs solar cell was up to 15%.

In the year1974, COMSAT Research Institute proposed a non-reflective suede battery, and silicon solar cell could reach the efficiency up to 18%.

In the year1975, amorphous silicon solar cells come out. In the same year, the efficiency was up to 6%.

In the year1976, the efficiency of Polycrystalline silicon solar cell was up to 10%.

In the year1978, The United States established 100kWp solar photovoltaic power station on the ground.

In the year1980, monocrystalline silicon solar cell efficiency was up to 20%. Gallium arsenide cell was 22.5%. Polycrystalline silicon cells achieved 14.5%. Cadmium sulfide battery was up to 9.15%.

In 1983, the United States constructed a 1MWp photovoltaic power plant. Metallurgical silicon (epitaxial) Battery reached the efficiency to 11.8%.

In the year1986, the United States established a 6.5MWp photovoltaic power plants.

In the year1990, Germany put forward the "2000 Solar Roofs Plan", whereby each family had 3 ~ 5kWp photovoltaic cells roof-mounted.

In the year1995, High-efficient GaAs concentrator solar cell attained the efficiency up to 32%.

In the year1997, the United States proposed "President Clinton's Million Solar Roofs Plan". Up to 100 million families will install 3 ~ 5kWp PV cells by 2010. If it is in the sun,the photovoltaic-roof will supply power to the grid, so that the electricity meter will reverse. If it is not in the sun, the grid will supply power to the family, causing the meter will count forwards. The family just pays the "net charge of electricity."

In the year1997, Japan proposed "New Sunshine Project". By 2010, they will produce 4.3 billion Wp PV cells.

In the year1997, the E U plans that by 2010, 3.7 billion Wp photovoltaic cells will be produced.

In the year 1998, monocrystalline silicon solar cell reached the efficiency up to 25%. Government of the Netherlands proposed "Holland 1 million solar photovoltaic-roof program" and will be completed in 2020.