There's great activity in solar when it comes to wide-area power distribution projects and heating for homes. One need not look further than the recent Forum 2001 solar energy conference in Washington, D.C., however, to see that solar is not a priority in the electronics world. Indeed, only two participants, C&D Technology and Trace Engineering, were major names I cover. And they're serving the solar industry as manufacturers of lead-acid batteries and system integrators, respectively, not photovoltaics makers.

Very few in the electronics sector see a future for solar. It's not practical for automotives, they say, nor feasible for portable-wireless applications, owing to the excellent battery technology we have, ad infinitum. It's hard to dispute their points.

On the other hand, solar seems to have enjoyed eternal youth in the research phase. Despite the progress, I still view it-unfairly, perhaps-as a rag-tag collection of university-connected consortiums that have been given the blessing of the Department of Energy. So, partially discounting the conflict-of-interest issues on competing energy sources vs. government that ultimately accompany those discussions, what's the problem?

One is a matter of tax incentives for solar energy, notes Bruce Dick, director of product management at C&D Technology. In that context, it's not so curious that much future technology in power comes out of Europe, which appears guided by real-world economic and real estate constraints. Thus it isn't surprising that solar-powered field equipment would be more common there.

I bow to the expertise of those in the business of knowing the current practical state of solar. But I say we can't possibly know what applications will be practical until solar is given a real chance to shine. I say it hasn't, and it's about that time.