Timeline of solar cells

Part of the history of energy and technology

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In the 19th century, it was observed that the sunlight striking certain materials generates detectable electric current &#; the photoelectric effect. This discovery laid the foundation for solar cells. Solar cells have gone on to be used in many applications. They have historically been used in situations where electrical power from the grid was unavailable.

As the invention was brought out it made solar cells as a prominent utilization for power generation for satellites. Satellites orbit the Earth, thus making solar cells a prominent source for power generation through the sunlight falling on them. Solar cells are commonly used in satellites in today's times.

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Edmond Becquerel created the world's first photovoltaic cell at 19 years old in .

• - Philipp von Lenard observes the variation in electron energy with light frequency.
• - Wilhelm Hallwachs makes a semiconductor-junction solar cell (copper and copper oxide).

Einstein's "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" was published in Annalen der Physik in . Vanguard 1 with its six solar cells attached

• - T. Mandelkorn, U.S. Signal Corps Laboratories, creates n-on-p silicon solar cells, which are more resistant to radiation damage and are better suited for space. Hoffman Electronics creates 9% efficient solar cells. Vanguard I, the first solar-powered satellite, was launched with a 0.1 W, 100 cm2 solar panel.
• - Hoffman Electronics creates a 10% efficient commercial solar cell, and introduces the use of a grid contact, reducing the cell's resistance.

A New Mexico State University professor showing a solar panel in New Mexico in April Exponential growth-curve on a semi-log scale of worldwide installed photovoltaics in gigawatts since Market share of the different PV technologies &#; Worldwide installed photovoltaic capacity in "watts per capita" by country. Estimated figures for year .

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• 6 March &#; Scientists show that adding a layer of perovskite crystals on top of textured or planar silicon to create a tandem solar cell enhances its performance up to a power conversion efficiency of 26%. This could be a low cost way to increase efficiency of solar cells.

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• 13 July &#; The first global assessment into promising approaches of solar photovoltaic modules recycling is published. Scientists recommend "research and development to reduce recycling costs and environmental impacts compared to disposal while maximizing material recovery" as well as facilitation and use of techno&#;economic analyses.

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• 21 May &#; The first industrial commercial production line of perovskite solar panels, using an inkjet printing procedure, is launched in Poland.

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• 13 December &#; Researchers report the development of a database and analysis tool about perovskite solar cells which systematically integrates over 15,000 publications, in particular device-data about over 42,400 of such photovoltaic devices.

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• 16 December &#; ML System from Jasionka, Poland, opens first quantum glass production line. The factory started the production of windows integrating a transparent quantum-dots layer that can produce electricity while also capable of cooling buildings.

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• 30 May - A team at Fraunhofer ISE led by Frank Dimroth developed a 4-junction solar cell with an efficiency of 47.6% - a new world record for solar energy conversion.

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• 12 March &#; Scientists demonstrate the first monolithically integrated tandem solar cell using selenium as the photoabsorbing layer in the top cell, and silicon as the photoabsorbing layer in the bottom cell.

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The concept of harnessing the power of the sun is a familiar concept and one that has been around since humans have walked the Earth.

Who Invented Solar Panels?

As you will see in our infographic timeline below there were many notable inventors and scientists that made significant progress in the development of Solar Panels. Perhaps the most notable invention came as far back as from a 19-year-old Frenchman called Edmund Becquerel. He discovered what is called the photovoltaic effect, the underlying scientific process behind the solar cell, while experimenting with a couple of metal electrodes. His process was refined over the following decades by pioneering scientists, and in Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his theories explaining the photoelectric effect.

In the early s the first uses were made of the photovoltaic cell, sometimes referred to as PV cells. These cells are produced from extremely thin wafers of silicon. These are the types of solar panels that you hear about most frequently these days.

Solar energy has come a very long way since when the first solar powered satellite was launched. With the recent advent of nanotechnologies, the efficiencies of the PV cell are now many times what they used to be. Now it takes far less roof space, and far less expense, to fully solar power an average home.

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A Full Timeline History of the Development of Solar Power

3rd Century B.C. Romans and Greeks used mirrors to focus sunlight on torches to light them for religious ceremonies 212 B.C. Similar to the Greeks and Romans, the Chinese documented the use of burning mirrors to light torches for religious purposes 20 A.D. Similar to the Greeks and Romans, the Chinese documented the use of burning mirrors to light torches for religious purposes 1st to 6th Century A.D. The popularity of using &#;sun rooms&#; to let in the sun&#;s warmth increased particularly in the Roman Empire 13th Century A.D. The Anasazi in North America live in south-facing cliff dwellings that capture the winter sunlight for heat Horace Bénédict de Saussure, a swiss scientist, is credited with builidng the worlds first solar oven capable of reaching 110 °C &#; a insulated box with three layers of glass design to trap outgoing thermal radiation A 19-year-old Frenchman called Edmund Becquerel, discovered what is called the photovoltaic effect, the physics behind the solar cell, while experimenting with a couple of metal electrodes. s French mathematician Augustin Mouchot was perhaps the first to look for an energy replacement to coal which he believed would eventually run out. Mouchot invented the solar steam engines using a parabolic dish to concentrate solar energy on a water reservoir. English electrical engineer, Willoughby Smith published an article describing the photoconductivity of Selenium (leading to the invention of photoelectric cells) Englishmen, William Grylls Adams and Richard Evans Day discovered lighting a junction between selenium and platinum has a photovoltaic effect &#; the first demonstration that light can produce electricity American inventor, Charles Fritts creates the first solar cells from wafers of selenium Clarence Kemp invented and patented (in USA) the passive solar water heater American physicist Robert Andrews Millikan provides experimental proof of the photoelectric effect as described by Albert Einstein in Albert Einstein wins the Nobel Prize for his research dating back to and technical paper explaining the photoelectric effect Audobert and Stora discovered a Photovoltaic Effect in cadmium sulfide (CdS) American professor, Dan Trivich was the first to make theoretical calculations on the efficiency of solar cell using different materials Bell Labs invent first solar cell with 4% efficiency &#; the first with sufficient efficiency to run everyday equipment s Western Electric commenced selling licenses for solar-powered technologies such as dollar bill changers and solar powered punch card decoders Hoffman Electronics creates photovoltaic cells with 8% efficiency and then one year later in achieves 9% efficiency and 14% in Solar is successfully used in space via the Vangua I space satellite to power radios. Solar eventually became the accepted source of power for space applications and that still remains the case. Japan installs 242W solar array on a lighthouse &#; the world&#;s largest solar array at the time. s NASA after years of research and development of space Solar PV systems dedicates a 3.5kW solar system to the Papago Indian Reservation which powers water pumps and electricity in 15 homes. Paul MacCready creates the first solar aircraft and travels across the English Channel using only solar power and the wind. Australian, Hans Tholstrup, made the first transcontinental journey on a solar powered car which he called &#;The Quiet Achiever&#;. He later devised the concept of the World Solar Challenge. The global production of solar photovoltaics exceeds 21MW &#; with ARCO building a 6MW solar plant in central California The University of New South Wales sets the record for silicon solar efficiency in Solar PV breaking the 20% barrier Pacific Gas and Electrical develops the first grid-supported, distributed power plant to reinforce a weak feeder. Subhendu Guha invented a flexible solar roofing material utilising amorphouse silicon as the total cumulated global installed solar approaches 1GW The John Howard Australian Government introduced a Renewable Energy Target (MRET) with ambition of reaching 20% renewable by . &#; In to many states of Australia introduced feed-in-tariff schemes to incentivise Australians to install residential solar systems. The schemes led the initiated the solar boom in Australia and the schemes were wound back progressively over to Australian installed 1.6GW of solar increasing from 1.1GW in and 600MW in . Market growth driven by rapidly declining price of solar while electricity costs are rising.

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