Platform Banner

The Rise of Solar - The Bell Labs Quest Tutorial

Discover the groundbreaking journey of solar energy innovation in 'The Rise of Solar - The Bell Labs Quest'. Uncover how the visionary team at Bell Labs, led by pioneers like Gerald Pearson, defied skepticism to create the first practical silicon solar cell. This engaging narrative sheds light on the persistence that transformed solar energy from a ridiculed concept into a vital part of our global energy landscape. Explore the resilience behind this revolution!

02:20
47 views

Selected for you
New

Available in SoftSkills

00:00:03

the idea of harnessing solar energy was ridiculed.

00:00:06

It was seen as a scientific fancy dismissed by

00:00:09

the energy industry dominated by oil and coal.

00:00:13

However,

00:00:14

within Bell Labs,

00:00:15

a group of visionnaires saw the revolutionary potential

00:00:18

of the sun as an energy source.

00:00:20

In 1954,

00:00:22

Bell Labs introduced the first practical silicon solar cell.

00:00:26

This technological breakthrough did not receive the attention it deserved.

00:00:31

Gerald Pearson,

00:00:32

Calvin Fuller,

00:00:33

and Darl Chapin were the brains behind this advancement.

00:00:36

They were motivated by the belief that

00:00:38

solar energy could transform the energy industry.

00:00:42

Over the years,

00:00:43

despite initial indifference and lack of funding,

00:00:45

they continued their research.

00:00:47

Improving the efficiency of solar cells and

00:00:50

sharing their findings with the scientific community.

00:00:53

In the 1970s with the oil crisis,

00:00:56

the prospect of clean and renewable energy was no longer ridiculed

00:01:00

but began to be seen as a threat by oil tycoons.

00:01:03

They invested a lot of money.

00:01:05

They had plenty

00:01:07

in funding campaigns to discredit solar energy.

00:01:10

50 years later,

00:01:11

the effects of this discredit still mark some skeptical minds contaminated

00:01:16

by the rhetoric of the oil magnates of the time,

00:01:19

but the momentum was already set.

00:01:22

The visionaries of Bell Labs had sown seeds that began to germinate.

00:01:27

Governments and institutions started investing in solar energy research.

00:01:32

Technological advances made solar energy increasingly viable,

00:01:36

and public opinion began to change.

00:01:39

After being ridiculed and then discredited,

00:01:42

solar energy is today an essential component of the global

00:01:46

energy mix thanks to the perseverance of researchers like Pearson,

00:01:49

Fuller,

00:01:50

and Chappa.

00:01:51

But let's not forget Mervyn Kelly,

00:01:54

recognized as an incredible manager and motivator.

00:01:57

He was the president of Bell Laboratories

00:01:59

until 1959 and supported the researchers.

00:02:03

He was known for two great talents

00:02:06

asking the right questions and fostering an environment conducive to innovation,

00:02:12

two essential talents for anyone who wants

00:02:14

to transform revolutionary ideas into indispensable innovations.

Mandarine AI: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW