| With the recent rise in energy costs many | | | | consumers. |
| people have been looking to alternative | | | | |
| sources of energy. One of the greatest energy | | | | .In the late 1950's and early 1960's |
| sources (our sun) is readily available for | | | | satellites in the USA's and Soviet's space |
| the taking. We just need to be able to | | | | program were powered by solar cells and in |
| harness it's power. For those interested, | | | | the late 1960's solar power was basically the |
| below is a brief history of how solar power | | | | standard for powering space bound satellites. |
| came to be. | | | | |
| | | | In the early 1970's a way to lower to cost of |
| The history of photovoltaic energy (aka. | | | | solar cells was discovered. This brought the |
| solar cells) started way back in 1876. | | | | price down from $100 per watt to around $20 |
| William Grylls Adams along with a student of | | | | per watt. This research was spearheaded by |
| his, Richard Day, discovered that when | | | | Exxon. Most off-shore oil rigs used the solar |
| selenium was exposed to light, it produced | | | | cells to power the waning lights on the top |
| electricity. An electricity expert, Werner | | | | of the rigs. |
| von Siemens, stated that the discovery was | | | | |
| "scientifically of the most far-reaching | | | | The period from the 1970's to the 1990's saw |
| importance". The selenium cells were not | | | | quite a change in the usage of solar cells. |
| efficient, but it was proved that light, | | | | They began showing up on railroad crossings, |
| without heat or moving parts, could be | | | | in remote places to power homes, Australia |
| converted into electricity. | | | | used solar cells in their microwave towers to |
| | | | expand their telecommunication capabilities. |
| In 1953, Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson, and | | | | Even desert regions saw solar power bring |
| Daryl Chapin, discovered the silicon solar | | | | water to the soil where line fed power was |
| cell. This cell actually produced enough | | | | not an option! |
| electricity and was efficient enough to run | | | | |
| small electrical devices. The New York Times | | | | Today we see solar cells in a wide variety of |
| stated that this discovery was "the beginning | | | | places. You may see solar powered cars. There |
| of a new era, leading eventually to the | | | | is even a solar powered aircraft that has |
| realization of harnessing the almost | | | | flown higher than any other aircraft with the |
| limitless energy of the sun for the uses of | | | | exception of the Blackbird. With the cost of |
| civilization." | | | | solar cells well within everyone's budget, |
| | | | solar power has never looked so tempting. |
| The year is 1956, and the first solar cells | | | | |
| are available commercially. The cost however | | | | Recently new technology has given us screen |
| is far from the reach of everyday people. At | | | | printed solar cells, and a solar fabric that |
| $300 for a 1 watt solar cell, the expense was | | | | can be used to side a house, even solar |
| far beyond anyone's means. 1956 started | | | | shingles that install on our roofs. |
| showing us the first solar cells used in toys | | | | International markets have opened up and |
| and radios. These novelty items were the | | | | solar panel manufacturers are now playing a |
| first item to have solar cells available to | | | | key role in the solar power industry. |