Solar panels are everywhere today from rooftops in California to massive solar farms in Texas. They assist in supplying residential, commercial, and even citywide homes with renewable and clean energy. But have you ever questioned when solar panels and this incredible technology was invented?
We shall now take a trip back in time to see how solar panel technology was found, invented, and made into a great energy source as we see it today.
The Early Discovery of Solar Energy
The Birth of the Photovoltaic Effect (1839)
The history of solar panels dates back to 1839 when a young French physicist by the name Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered it. Becquerel, while experimenting with metal electrodes in a conductive solution, discovered that the materials generated a tiny electric current in the presence of light.
This finding was the photovoltaic effect, and it was the first documented case of electrical conversion of sunlight to electricity. Even though this was a weak effect and not yet viable, it created the groundwork on future solar energy innovations.
The First Solar Cell (1883)
Charles Fritts and the Birth of Solar Technology
Four decades later, in 1883, American inventor Charles Fritts invented the first functioning solar cell. Fritts also covered the selenium surface with gold to create an apparatus that can turn sunlight into electricity.
Although the efficiency of the solar cell invented by Fritts was not much, it was an invention to build upon. He also thought that solar energy would one day energize houses and factories- something way ahead of its time.
However, owing to its low productivity and expensive production cost, the invention of Fritts never enjoyed the mass usage. His vision would later start the solar revolution.
The Development of Modern Solar Cells
Albert Einstein’s Contribution (1905)
In 1905, Albert Einstein wrote an article describing how light could bang electrons off of atoms—a process he called the photoelectric effect. This finding won Einstein the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 and provided scientists with a better insight on how solar cells produce electricity.
This was one of the gaps bridged by the work of Einstein and it led to future technologies in solar that became breakthroughs in the field of physics and practical engineering.
The Silicon Solar Cell Revolution (1954)
Bell Labs Makes History
Modern solar panels were actually born in 1954, when scientists at Bell Labs, located in New Jersey, invented the first practical silicon solar cell.
Silicon, a widely used semiconductor material, was utilized by the team of Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson to create a solar cell that was much more efficient than previous models. Their solar cell had the capacity of approximately 6% efficiency which was sufficient to power small electrical devices.
Bell Labs caught the attention of the world when it demonstrated the solar cell by operating a toy Ferris wheel and a radio. The contemporary solar panel came into existence.
Solar Energy Takes Off in the Space Race (1950s–1960s)
Powering Satellites in Space
The 1950s and 1960s were a new dawn to solar technology. Solar panels were required during the Space Race to supply power to satellites in orbit around the earth.
The Vanguard 1 satellite was the first solar-powered satellite to be launched in 1958. Its solar cells sustained it in the transmission of information well beyond the expiry of its batteries which lasted more than six years.
This innovation demonstrated that solar power may be dependable, robust, and effective even in harsh conditions, and this led to new studies and investments in solar technologies.
Solar Power on Earth (1970s–1980s)
The Oil Crisis and Renewed Interest
In the 1970s, solar power started leaving space and going to earth. In 1973, the oil crisis affected the world, leading countries to realize that there was the necessity of using alternative sources of energy.
There were government programs and research funding that led to the development of solar technology. DOE and NASA started to finance large-scale solar experiments.
During this period, solar cells had been improved in terms of efficiency and cost. We started to see solar panels on buildings, remote communication stations, and even in small consumer electronics, such as calculators.
Solar Panels Enter the Mainstream (1990s–2000s)
Lower Costs and Higher Efficiency
In the 1990s, solar technology had ceased to be an experiment–it was now becoming practical. To manufacturers, it enhanced production techniques, which pushed down costs. The level of efficiency rose between 6 percent and more than 15 percent of commercial panels.
Environmental awareness was on the rise in the 2000s, and to motivate people to adopt solar power, governments created incentives and tax credits for it. States such as California and Arizona in the United States were the first to have policies that were solar friendly. It was during this time solar panels became more prevalent in residential and commercial houses.
Solar Power Today (2010s-2020s)
A Clean Energy Revolution
The decade was a breakthrough to solar energy. The cost has reduced over 80 percent compared to 2010; the most current iteration of solar panels can reach efficiencies of more than 22 percent.
Solar power has become a rapidly developing energy source in the U.S. Millions of Americans are going solar as a way of saving on their electricity bills as well as cutting their carbon footprint.
Large-scale solar farms, like those in Nevada and Texas, are generating enough power to supply entire cities. Solar energy has moved from a niche idea to a major part of America’s energy future.
The Future of Solar Panels
Innovations on the Horizon
Solar technology is not decelerating. Scientists are also working on the next generation of solar panels based on material such as perovskite that would enable solar panels to be highly efficient by being much cheaper.
The other innovations are solar roof tiles, transparent solar windows, and floating solar farms. Such developments are meant to make solar power invisible in our day-to-day life.
Energy Storage and Smart Grids
Energy storage is also important to the future of solar. Solar energy can be stored with improved battery technology to be used during the night or when there is cloud cover. This will –in conjunction with the smart grid systems– enable solar power to be even more dependable and omnipresent.
Why the Invention of Solar Panels Matters
The invention of solar panels has not merely served to give us a clean source of energy but has also changed the manner in which people view power.
Environmental Advantages: Solar energy will save on the emission of carbon and air pollution.
Economic Growth: Hundreds of thousands of jobs are created and assisted by the U.S. solar industry.
Energy Independence: Solar energy assists in decreasing the dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The process of human innovation that started as a mere experiment in 1839 to what the world has today, in terms of high-tech solar farms, is a testament to the extent of human innovation to achieve a sustainable future.
