[qam1]

Solar Cells are a modern technology (as opposed to trains and windmills) and have a place in energy generation, especially should batteries ever improve significantly (order of magnitude).

Bzzzzzt. Wrong

The 1st solar cell was invented in 1883 by Charles Fritts.

Hardly modern technology.

If after 130 years and 100s of billions in subsidies solar cells still produce way less than 1% of the energy in America, we can say that they have only a little place in energy generation

[Paladin2]

Since efficiency has gone above 15%, solar is better than biology for some uses.

It's still much (>>) better than wind and trains.