Solar energy is the most important basic energy among all kinds of renewable energy. Biomass energy, wind energy, ocean energy, water energy, etc. all come from solar energy. In a broad sense, solar energy includes all kinds of renewable energy above. As a kind of renewable energy, solar energy refers to the direct conversion and utilization of solar energy. The conversion of solar radiation energy into heat energy through conversion devices belongs to solar thermal utilization technology, and the reuse of heat energy for power generation is called solar thermal power generation, which also belongs to this technical field: the conversion of solar radiation energy into electric energy through conversion devices belongs to dry solar photovoltaic power generation technology. Photoelectric conversion devices usually use the photovoltaic effect principle of semiconductor devices for photoelectric conversion, Therefore, it is also called solar photovoltaic technology.

In the 1950s, there were two major technological breakthroughs in the field of solar energy utilization: first, in 1954, Bell Laboratories of the United States developed a 6% practical monocrystalline silicon cell; second, in 1955, Tabor of Israel proposed the concept and theory of selective absorption surface and successfully developed a selective solar absorption coating. These two technological breakthroughs have laid a technological foundation for the modern development of solar energy utilization.

Since the 1970s, due to the limited supply of conventional energy and the increasing pressure on environmental protection, many countries in the world have set off a boom in the development and utilization of solar energy and renewable energy. In 1973, the United States formulated a solar power generation plan, and in 1980, photovoltaic power generation was officially included in the public power planning, with a cumulative investment of more than 800 million dollars. In 1992, the United States issued a new photovoltaic power generation plan and formulated a grand development goal. Japan formulated the "Sunshine Plan" in the 1970s, and merged the "Moonlight Plan" (energy conservation plan), "Environmental Plan" and "Sunshine Plan" into the "New Sunshine Plan" in 1993. Germany and other European Community countries and some developing countries have also formulated corresponding development plans. Since the 1990s, the United Nations has held a series of summit meetings with the participation of leaders of various countries to discuss and formulate the world's strategic plan for human solar energy, the international convention on human solar energy, and the International Fund for Human Solar Energy to promote the development and utilization of global solar energy and renewable energy. The development and utilization of solar energy and renewable energy has become a major theme and common action of the international community, and an important part of the sustainable development strategy of countries.

The research and development of solar energy and renewable energy technologies have been included in the national science and technology research plan, which has greatly promoted the development of solar energy and renewable energy technologies and industries in China.

Over the past 20 years, solar energy utilization technology has made great progress in research and development, commercial production and market development, and has become one of the emerging industries with rapid and stable development in the world.