Abstract

Alternative energy is a key issue today. But so is also artificial intelligence. Search for alternative energy sources and optimizing use is a reoccurring event within the context of energy saving and climate preservation. Solar energy takes a central place in this search. It has numerous positive traits going all the way from low cost and accessibility to mobility and relative ease of application. Yet it has a long way to go to reach higher productivity and wider spread. And here comes artificial intelligence.

Emerging AI technologies could prove conducive to enhancing the productivity of solar cells, inducing wider applications and open the doors for virgin innovations. This will be the focus of the following article. The article starts with an outline of the current parameters of solar cell technology. An analysis follows. An analytical context is provided by the so called “Rumsfeld Matrix “, or the “Known knowns and unknown unknown’s ‘matrix”. It relates present day solar and AI technologies to a future era of unknown dimensions of both concepts. The article concludes with a set of hypotheses reflecting the outcome of this analytical model.