New podcast episode delves into the innovation story behind today’s solar power boom

Today, the IEA released the first of a three-episode podcast miniseries focused on energy innovations that have shaped our lives.

The opening episode focuses on solar cells. Today, solar PV is the fastest-growing energy source in the world. Yet that wouldn’t have been possible without a history of innovation spanning decades. From the breakthrough discovery of a practical silicon solar cell at a US phone company in the 1950s to the rapid scaling up of solar panel manufacturing in China in the 2000s, these advances – along with supportive policies – have made solar energy cost competitive globally. And innovation could now reshape the sector once again, helping address emerging challenges such as grid integration and supply chain concentration.

Guests on the episode include IEA energy technology analyst Simon Bennett; Sekisui Chemical Co. group leader Takeru Bessho; Qcells Global Chief Technology Officer Danielle Merfeld; and Greg Nemet, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of the book “How Solar Energy Became Cheap.”

The episode is available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Episodes in the coming weeks will explore innovations in drilling that have unlocked access to vast oil and gas resources, and the invention – and continued development – of air conditioners.

The IEA’s Everything Energy podcast offers insights and perspectives on leading global energy issues. In recent episodes, IEA experts have unpacked a number of topics linked to the ongoing energy crisis stemming from the war in the Middle East – including an underused resource for lowering energy costs, how the crisis is reshaping energy investment trends, the impact of cooking fuel shortages, and what the energy world looked like on the eve of the crisis. All past episodes are available here.