160 Years of Photovoltaic Technology Most people are surprised to learn that photovoltaic technology actually dates back over 160 years. The basic science was first discovered in 1839 but the pace of advancement really accelerated in three major thrusts in the 20th century.
1839
Experimenting
with metal electrodes and electrolyte, nineteen-year-old French physicist
Alexandre Edmond Becquerel observes a physical phenomenon allowing
light-electricity conversion
1883
Charles
Fritts, an American inventor, describes the first solar cells made
from selenium wafers
1888
Edward
Weston receives first US patent for "solar cell"
1901
Nikola
Tesla receives US patent for "method of utilizing, and apparatus
for the utlization of, radiant energy"
Albert Einstein Makes His Mark
It wasn't until Albert Einstein wrote his 1905 paper on the photoelectric effect: "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light".
1905
Albert
Einstein publishes paper on theory behind “photoelectric effect”
along with paper on relativity theory
1916
Robert
Millikan provided experimental proof of Einstein’s theory
on photoelectric effect
1922
Einstein
wins Nobel prize for 1904 paper on photoelectric effect
The Commercial Solar Age Begins
Bell Laboratories, while working on silicon semiconductors, discovered silicon had photoelectric properties and quickly developed Si solar cells, achieving 6% efficiency and early satellites were the primary use for these first solar cells.
1954
Bell
Labs exhibits first high-power silicon PV cell. The New York
Times forcasts that solar cells will eventually lead to a source
of "limitless
energy of the sun".
1955
Western
Electric sells commercial licenses for silicon PV technologies; early
successful products include PV-powered dollar bill changers and devices
that decoded computer punch cards and tape.
1958
PV
array powers radios on US Vanguard I space satellite
1963
Sharp
Corporation produces a viable photovoltaic module of silicon solar
cells. Japan installs a 242-watt PV array on a lighthouse, the world's
largest array at that time.
1966
NASA
launches Orbiting Astronomical Observatory with a 1-kilowatt PV array
1970s
Research
drives PV costs down 80%, allowing for applications such as offshore
navigation warning lights and horns lighthouses, railroad crossings,
and remote use where utility-grid connections are too costly
1973
Solarex
Corp is founded by two ex-NASA scientists who worked on the development
of satellite PV systems
1974
Japan
formulates “Project Sunshine” to fuel PV research
and development
1976
Kyocera
Corp begins production of Silicon ribbon crystal solar modules
1977
US
Dept. of Energy establishes US Solar Energy Research Institute in
Golden, CO
1980s
Continued
improvements in efficiency and cost enables PV to become a popular
power source for consumer electronic devices, such as calculators,
watches, radios, lanterns and other small battery charging applications
Progressive Governments Use Subsidies to Speed Adoption
To spur adoption, Germany and then Japan initiated considerable subsidy programs and now those markets exist largely without subsidies. In 2007, California leads the US with a similar 10-year program.
1990
Germany
launches $500MM “100,000 Solar Roofs” program. The
Cathedral of Magdeburg installs solar cells on the roof, marking
the first installation on a church in East Germany
1991
President
George H. W. Bush directs the U.S. Department of Energy to estalish
the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (transerring the existing
Solar Energy Research Institute) in Sandia, NM
1994
Japan begins "70,000 Solar Roofs" PV subsidy program
1998
California
initiates $112MM “Emerging Renewables Program” to fund
rebates for <30 kW residential and commercial PV systems
2002
CA
Public Utilities Commission begins $100MM “Self Generation Incentive
Program” for >30 kW PV projects
2004
Five
manufacturers — Sharp, Kyocera, Shell Solar, BP Solar and RWE
SCHOTT Solar — account for 60 percent of the PV market. GE
buys Astropower, the last remaining US independent PV manufacturer
2006
The CA PUC demonstrates leadership by outlining what will become the California Solar Initiative (CSI), a 10-year, $3 billion solar subsidy program.
2007
The CSI program begins and is well received by the market, with higher than expected application volume.
2008
Your company joins the fast-growing list of California business leaders who adopt solar power for their business with Sunlight Electric.
