Solar energy is not a new concept. For years, civilizations utilized the power of the sun’s rays to warm their homes and dry their food and clothes. Today, we know so much more about what the sun can do can do. No better example of this is found than in photovoltaic electricity, or PV for short. This term refers to the electrical current that is generated when light reacts with a solar cell, which is generally made from silicate.
The photovoltaic effect has been studied and experimented with since its discovery in 1839. At first this effect was considered simply a phenomenon with no real practical application. It took over 100 years for the application of photovoltaics to catch up with the technology. In the mid 1950’s AT&T was demonstrating the first solar cells. Although these efforts were far from efficient, this technology grew interest from a wide array of researchers including the space industry.
Today, nearly 60 years after the first solar cells were introduced we are seeing a boom in this industry, but this was not always the case. The nineteen seventies and eighties were tough times for the solar industry. There were more pressing issues America was dealing with and photovoltaic research took the back seat. This technology was considered too expensive and experimental. The focus was on meeting our country’s energy needs through foreign oil. The nineteen nineties brought renewed interest in Solar. Our federal government developed incentives for research and development and utility companies offered rebates to customers who invested in this technology. This sudden interest has let to dramatic price decreases on this technology. At present time the price for solar electric technology is still going down.
One cause of this decrease in price comes from a renewed interest in solar electric manufacturing technology and companies striving to bring the cost down so PV will be available for the masses. The traditional silicone wafer once took a significant amount of energy to produce. Because of this, PV manufacturers are experimenting with different ways to make their product as efficiently and carbon neutral as possible. Examples of this are ribbon wafers, which allows a module to produce more power without being larger in size and nanoparticle ink where the solar cell is painted on the module. These advancements reduce waste and add great efficiency to the manufacture process.
Solar electric technology has proven to be an effective way to create electricity for a wide range of applications. With continued support this industry is on the path of changing the way we look at energy.
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