Solar Revolution: The Economic Transformation of the Global Energy Industry (The MIT Press)

An innovative analysis that shows how the shift to solar energy—in particular, the use of photovoltaic cells—is both economically advantageous and inevitable, and will rival the information and communication technologies revolution in its transformative effects.In Solar Revolution, fund manager and former corporate buyout specialist Travis Bradford argues—on the basis of standard business and economic forecasting models—that over the next two decades solar energy will increasingly become the best and cheapest choice for most electricity and energy applications. Solar Revolution outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur.Developments in the photovoltaic (PV) industry over the last ten years have made direct electricity generation from PV cells a cost-effective and feasible energy solution, despite the common view that PV technology appeals only to a premium niche market. Bradford shows that PV electricity today has become the choice of hundreds of thousands of mainstream homeowners and businesses in many markets worldwide, including Japan, Germany, and the American Southwest. Solar energy will eventually be the cheapest source of energy in nearly all markets and locations because PV can bypass the aging and fragile electricity grid and deliver its power directly to the end user, fundamentally changing the underlying economics of energy. As the scale of PV production increases and costs continue to decline at historic rates, demand for PV electricity will outpace supply of systems for years to come. Ultimately, the shift from fossil fuels to solar energy will take place not because solar energy is better for the environment or energy security, or because of future government subsidies or as yet undeveloped technology. The solar revolution is already occurring through decisions made by self-interested energy users. The shift to solar energy is inevitable and will be as transformative as the last century's revolutions in information and communication technologies. An innovative analysis that shows how the shift to solar energyin particular, the use of photovoltaic cellsis both economically advantageous and inevitable, and will rival the information and communication technologies revolution in its transformative effects. In Solar Revolution , fund manager and former corporate buyout specialist Travis Bradford argueson the basis of standard business and economic forecasting modelsthat over the next two decades solar energy will increasingly become the best and cheapest choice for most electricity and energy applications. Solar Revolution outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur. Developments in the photovoltaic (PV) industry over the last ten years have made direct electricity generation from PV cells a cost-effective and feasible energy solution, despite the common view that PV technology appeals only to a premium niche market. Bradford shows that PV electricity today has become the choice of hundreds of thousands of mainstream homeowners and businesses in many markets worldwide, including Japan, Germany, and the American Southwest. Solar energy will eventually be the cheapest source of energy in nearly all markets and locations because PV can bypass the aging and fragile electricity grid and deliver its power directly to the end user, fundamentally changing the underlying economics of energy. As the scale of PV production increases and costs continue to decline at historic rates, demand for PV electricity will outpace supply of systems for years to come. Ultimately, the shift from fossil fuels to solar energy will take place not because solar energy is better for the environment or energy security, or because of future government subsidies or as yet undeveloped technology. The solar revolution is already occurring through decisions made by self-interested energy users. The shift to solar energy is inevitable and will be as transformative as the last century's revolutions in information and communication technologies.

In Solar Revolution, fund manager and former corporate buyout specialist Travis Bradford argues—on the basis of standard business and economic forecasting models—that over the next two decades solar energy will increasingly become the best and cheapest choice for most electricity and energy applications. Solar Revolution outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur.Developments in the photovoltaic (PV)industry over the last ten years have made direct electricity generation from PV cells a cost-effective and feasible energy solution, despite the common view that PV technology appeals only to a premium niche market. Bradford shows that PV electricity today has become the choice of hundreds of thousands of mainstream homeowners and businesses in many markets worldwide, including Japan, Germany, and the American Southwest.Solar energy will eventually be the cheapest source of energy in nearly all markets and locations because PV can bypass the aging and fragile electricity grid and deliver its power directly to the end user, fundamentally changing the underlying economics of energy. As the scale of PV production increases and costs continue to decline at historic rates,demand for PV electricity will outpace supply of systems for years to come.Ultimately, the shift from fossil fuels to solar energy will take place not because solar energy is better for the environment or energy security, or because of future government subsidies or as yet undeveloped technology. The solar revolution is already occurring through decisions made by self-interested energy users. The shift to solar energy is inevitable and will be as transformative as the last century's revolutions in information and communication technologies.

Argues - on the basis of standard business and economic forecasting models - that over the next two decades solar energy will become the best and cheapest choice for most electricity and energy applications. This book outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur. An innovative analysis that shows how the shift to solar energy - in particular, the use of photovoltaic cells - is both economically advantageous and inevitable, and will rival the information and communication technologies revolution in its transformative effects. In "Solar Revolution", fund manager and former corporate buyout specialist, Travis Bradford argues - on the basis of standard business and economic forecasting models - that over the next two decades solar energy will increasingly become the best and cheapest choice for most electricity and energy applications. "Solar Revolution" outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur. Developments in the photovoltaic (PV) industry over the last ten years have made direct electricity generation from PV cells a cost-effective and feasible energy solution, despite the common view that PV technology appeals only to a premium niche market. Bradford shows that PV electricity today has become the choice of hundreds of thousands of mainstream homeowners and businesses in many markets worldwide, including Japan, Germany, and the American Southwest Contents......Page 8 Preface: The Future of Energy......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 16 I The Inevitability of Solar Energy......Page 18 1 A New Path on the Horizon......Page 20 II Past to the Present......Page 38 2 A Brief History of Energy......Page 40 3 An Unsustainable Status Quo......Page 62 4 The Field of Alternatives......Page 84 5 Solar Energy......Page 106 III Future Transformations......Page 130 6 Modern Electric Utility Economics......Page 132 7 The Emergence of Distributed Economics......Page 152 8 Solar Electricity in the Real World......Page 170 IV A Promising Destination......Page 186 9 Tools for Acceleration......Page 188 10 Facing the Inevitable......Page 202 Appendix: Energy and Electricity Measurements......Page 216 Notes......Page 218 Suggested Readings......Page 238 Credits......Page 240 Index......Page 244 The MIT Press Contents 8 Preface: The Future of Energy 10 Acknowledgments 16 I The Inevitability of Solar Energy 18 1 A New Path on the Horizon 20 II Past to the Present 38 2 A Brief History of Energy 40 3 An Unsustainable Status Quo 62 4 The Field of Alternatives 84 5 Solar Energy 106 III Future Transformations 130 6 Modern Electric Utility Economics 132 7 The Emergence of Distributed Economics 152 8 Solar Electricity in the Real World 170 IV A Promising Destination 186 9 Tools for Acceleration 188 10 Facing the Inevitable 202 Appendix: Energy and Electricity Measurements 216 Notes 218 Suggested Readings 238 Credits 240 Index 244 ISBN-13:,9780262026048 "In Solar Revolution, fund manager and former corporate buyout specialist Travis Bradford argues - on the basis of standard business and economic forecasting models - that over the next two decades solar energy will increasingly become the best and cheapest choice for most electricity and energy applications. Solar Revolution outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur."--Jacket Travis Bradford. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [201-220]) And Index.