1839	Edmond Becquerel describes the PV effect.
1870	Heinrich Hertz studies the PV effect in solids such as selenium.
1950s	Czochralski process for producing silicon wafers developed.
1954	Approximately 1W of silicon based PV generating device was manufactured.
1958	The US Vanguard satellite carries a small array of solar cells for its radio.
1970s	First solar energy PV applications appear (e.g. solar powered calculators).
1973	Oil crisis sparks a major effort to bring photovoltaics down to earth.
1980s	R&D increases, although mostly government funded, leading to expensive experimental prototypes. Japanese tax credit.
1990s	Gulf War renewed interest in renewable energy, which instigated the appearance of more commercially viable applications, but still heavy subsidy dependent.
1990s	BIPV installations become mainstream.
2000	New technologies, growing commercial PV applications for developed and developing markets.
2003	EU sets mandate: 12% renewable energy by 2010.
2004	Approximately 1 billion watt (1GW) of PV modules manufactured worldwide. Need for more cost effective PV – the thin-film PV technologies push.
2005	Oil price at USD 60 / barrel created great push for PV developments.
2006	California "Million Solar Roofs" program initiated. Various PV incentives (feed-in-tariff and buy-down programs) create enormous global push for PV.