Brief History of Solar Panels

Brief History of Solar Panels

Brief History of Solar Panels

Since the inception of civilization, we as a species realized the power of the sun's energy. We have utilized it to grow crops, to warm our homes and as guide for directions. Ancient civilization relied on it in tow major aspects, source of heat and light. As our civilization progressed we relied on the sun's energy more and more.

However the breakthrough didn't take place until the 1839. The photovoltaic effect was first coined by Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel a French physicist whose expertise revolves around the solar spectrum and electrical fields. However, it took more than five decades before the concept was applied. In 1883 Charles Fritts invented the first working solar panel but it had an efficiency rate of about 1 percent only. His design was lined with gold causing the prices to shoot up and with a low efficiency, useful applications were envisaged during that time.

In 1888 Aleksandr Grigorievich Stoletov invented the photoelectric cells based on the theory of photoelectric effect by Heinrich Hertz. But in 1905 Albert Einstein took the scene in the solar energy application when he explained the photoelectric effect and won a noble prize award for it in 1921.

The modern solar panels that you are using today are owed to Russell Shoemaker Ohl who patented the technology in 1946. Modern solar cells today are encapsulated in panels creating the solar arrays. The design and engineering is now a little complex compared to the first few designs, and there have been some changes and improvements over time to increase efficiency and reduce the cost, but the original concept and breakthrough served as the backbone of this clean and renewable energy source.

Today, the demand for solar PV is fast rising and is being used widely in both residential and commercial applications. In Australia government rebates and incentives are being applied to encourage everyone from homeowners to large corporations to go solar.. Statistics from the last few years show the annual decrease of the prices of the systems and growing numbers of solar installations, proving that solar PV is becoming an effective & affordable renewable energy alternative.

Soon enough, the technology will not only be available in advanced countries like Australia, Japan, the United States and in Europe but also in the majority of nations across all 7 continents. The main objective of the global awareness is to eliminate the dependence on dirty energy sources from finite and polluting fossil fuel sources.

By the year 2050 it is expected that majority of nations will have made the switch to renewable solar power, and with the ever increasing state of technology we will have available better and better alternative energy solutions - but the first step starts now!

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