Sun Above the Horizon

“If solar energy was to become a practical terrestrial source of electricity, the cells needed to be cheaper. One of the pioneers in that effort was a chemist named Peter Varadi. In 1973, he and fellow Hungarian refugee Joseph Lindmayer launched a company called Solarex in Rockville, Md.

“When they started, there was hardly a market for photovoltaic cells. Then customers began to emerge, mainly for applications in remote locations, off the grid.

“Solarex was profitable but short of capital, and Dr. Varadi and Dr. Lindmayer ended up selling it in 1983.

“But then, at the beginning of this century, solar came back to life. The reason was Germany. In pursuit of a low-carbon future, the country launched its Energiewende (energy transition), which provided rich subsidies for renewable electricity.

“‘Solar is growing fantastically,’ says Dr. Varadi, who chronicles solar’s rise in his new book, Sun Above the Horizon. ‘Something like this required time. Shale oil and shale gas had a ready market. When we started, we had no market at all, zero. And the industry had to get to mass production to bring down costs.’”

~The Wall Street Journal

“Dr. Varadi’s book is a unique contribution to the history of solar PV, an energy technology that is transforming the way we generate and use electricity. I am unaware of any other book that addresses this history as comprehensively as this book does. It also benefits greatly from having been written by a true PV pioneer who helped create a new and critically important energy industry.”

~Dr. Allan R. Hoffman, Former Associate and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Utility Technologies, U.S. DOE

“Peter takes you on a fantastic ride through the incredible growth story of modern solar energy from 1973 to the present day. And since he started it all, you are in the driver's seat! This book is a must-read for everyone in the sector but equally educating and entertaining for everyone with an interest in technology.”

~Frank Wouters, Deputy Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency

“This book provides a unique perspective by one of the pioneers in the PV industry who co-founded the first company that manufactured solar cells for terrestrial applications.  Although  the book reviews the  technology of various PV systems, it is different in that it focuses on the history of the last 40 years of the industry. Even though it is based on well-established facts and solid research, the book often reads like a novel describing the successes and failures of the people involved in the industry.  It is a must-read for anyone who wants to know how the PV industry grew to this point and where it may be headed in the future.”

~Dr. Denis J. Curtin, Former Chief Operating Officer, XTAR LLC, USA