Photovoltaics
Neotechnic

The story of photovoltaic power starts with the laying of the Altantic cable in the 1860s.

Selenium bars used to test impurities in the cable worked well at night but not during the day due to what we now know was the photoelectric effect.

Werner Von Siemens (founder of Siemens electronics) was among the first to recognize the significance of the photoelectric effect of selenium.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

1921 Nobel Laureate in Physics "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect."

 

Albert Einstein was curious about Sieman's findings, along with others (esp. Max Laue). In a 1905 paper, Einstein wrote that light would have to be both wave and particle (photon).

O.H. Mohr, of Oakland, CA, worked on a solar vacuum tube in the 1930s and 40s.

Many scientists tried to harness the photoelectric effect.

The first silicon solar cell had an efficiency of 2.3 percent, about five times better than early tests with selenium. Gerald Pearson of Bell Labs semiconductor research group, along with Darryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller, were the first to succeed in 1953.
Bell labs demonstrated the solar cell to the National Academy of Sciences in 1954, using solar panels to power a small radio like this one. Along with transistors, solar cells will "profoundly influence the art of living," Bell Labs said.
Soon solar cells were powering satellites, such as the first telecommunications satellite, Telstar, in 1962. Solar cells cost about $600 per watt at the time.

The MIT entry in Sunrayce USA stops for repair during a storm. (right)

Sun Racer the solar powered racer that was the winner of the 1,950 mile race for solar cars across Australia. The car was designed by Aerovironment and General Motors engineers. (left)

The Solar Challenger was designed by Paul D. MacCready to awaken the public to the possibilities of solar energy.

On July 7, 1981, the Challenger flew from Paris, France to Canterbury, England, a distance of 163 miles, rising to an altitude of 11,000 feet.

Christina Jennings of Pacific Gas and Electric inspects photovoltaic cells from 15 manufacturers used for long-term efficiency testing.

Years of testing and experimentation are now starting to pay off. Cost of solar arrays are in the neighborhood of $3 to $5 per kilowatt.

Peaking power from photovoltaics is especially valuable.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District is paying about 5 cents per kilowatt hour for solar photovoltaic power.

PV Shingle Home
From ordinary houses using photovoltaic shingles to Four Times Square, a pv-skinned skyscraper.

Back to Intro