Solar History

Solar Power Milestones - The History of Solar Energy
Although harnessing the Sun's energy has fascinated the world's scientific community for centuries, it was not until the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 that the virtues of solar power leapt into the global consciousness. The first conventional PV cells were produced in the late 1950s, and throughout the 1960s were principally used to provide electrical power for earth-orbiting satellites. By the 1970s, improvements in the manufacturing, performance and quality of PV modules helped to reduce costs and opened up a number of opportunities for powering remote terrestrial applications, including battery charging for navigational aids, signals, telecommunications equipment and other critical low power needs.

Following the energy crisis of the 1970s, significant efforts shifted to the development of PV power systems for residential and commercial uses both for stand-alone, remote power, as well as, for utility-connected applications. In the 1980s, PV became a popular power source for some consumer electronic devices, including calculators, watches, radios, lanterns and other small battery charging applications.

In more recent times, the environmental costs of burning fossil fuels have seen the world's interest in solar energy systems gather even further momentum. With issues such as global warming and carbon emissions now scientifically proven and firmly on the political agenda, the demand for photovoltaic technologies is set to continue apace.

Today, the PV industry's production of solar modules is growing at approximately 30% annually. Major incentive programs in Europe, Japan and the U.S. are rapidly accelerating the implementation of building integrated PV power systems and interconnection to utility networks.

Here are some key milestones in the history of solar energy:

1839
Edmund Henry Bequerel discovered the photovoltaic effect. Nineteen-year-old Becquerel, a French experimental physicist, discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes. Becquerel found that certain materials would produce small amounts of electric current when exposed to light.
1950s
Bell Labs develops the first commercially viable solar cell
1970s
First practical solar cells were produced (cost 100$/W)
1976
The NASA Lewis Research Center starts installing 83 photovoltaic power systems across the globe, to provide vaccine refrigeration, room lighting, medical clinic lighting, telecommunications, water pumping, grain milling and classroom television.
1977
Worldwide photovoltaic production exceeds 500 kilowatts.
1982
Volkswagen of Germany begins testing photovoltaic arrays mounted on the roofs of Dasher station wagons, generating 160 watts for the ignition.
1983
Worldwide photovoltaic production exceeds 21.3 megawatts.
1985
The University of New South Wales breaks the 20% efficiency barrier for silicon solar cells under 1-sun conditions.
1992
A 7.5 kilowatt prototype dish system using an advanced stretch membrane concentrator becomes operational.
1994
The first solar dish generator using a free-piston Stirling engine is connected to an existing utility grid.
1996
The world's most advanced solar-powered airplane, the Icare, with 3,000 super-efficient solar cells, flies over Germany.
1999
Worldwide photovoltaic production exceeds 200 megawatts.
2000
Astronauts at the International Space Station begin installing solar panels on what becomes the largest solar power array deployed in space.
2002
Japan installs 25,000 solar rooftops on homes throughout the country.
2003
Global investment in solar and wind power exceeds US$20 billion per annum.
2006
Worldwide photovoltaic production exceeds 2500 megawatts.
2007
California announces the "Million Solar Roofs" California Solar Initiative.
2008
US Congress passes the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, providing a 30% federal income tax credit for solar power, wind and alternative energy products.
2009
US Congress passes the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009; providing for a cap and trade system to reduce harmful greenhouse gas carbon emissions, and requirements for alternative energy production from solar, wind and other clean energy sources.