The Evolution of Solar Panels

Our widespread use of Solar panels nowadays is thanks to us being able to harness the power of the photovoltaic effect. The Photovoltaic effect was invented by a nineteen year old named Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel in 1839, and is primarily the process of converting the sunlight into electricity inside special solar cells. As with many important discoveries it has been improved by others who followed; William Grylis Adams discovered the importance of selenium in the process, which can also produce also an electric current once it is exposed to light. This discovery was a great innovation in the manufacture of solar panels because it proves that solid material can change light into electricity, and while the amount of electricity that Selenium is able to produce is not enough to power a device alone, its inclusion did greatly increase their efficiency.

The evolution continued; in the 1950’s Gerald Pearson made use of solar panel made of silicon but due to lack of funds to build a power plant they were only able to test this panels to a model toy airplanes. At that time building a power plant was not at all economically feasible as the cost them was about $300 per watt, way above the $50 per watt cost needed to run a power plant.

In the early 70’s Dr Elliot Bernan found a way to use a new material which wascheaper, which helped solar panels become more practical to use in remote area buildings like lighthouses. The following years the coast guard started to use the solar panels as well, and other companies like railways also utilised their use.

Gradually solar panels use began to be more widespread and the costs of the solar panels and other components have decreased in time with this. The spread of solar was also helped by the great increase price of the gas which was one of the primary elements needed for commercial generators. Another big advantage that solar panels offer was starting to be recognized and utilised; it is much more practical to use in isolated areas as it doesn’t require the infrastructure that long distance transporting of electricity does.

The last few years has seen rapid improvements in solar technology and manufactures are finding continual new innovations to make the panels much more efficient, affordable and desirable to their consumers. Hopefully this will prove to be enough to make a real influence on our current critical problems with pollutions and carbon emissions, as a new era with a focus on renewable energy sources will see the eco-friendly solar panel improve life for the better for all of us as well as our environment