When it comes to solar power, a common misconception is to consider it as a relatively modern facet of society. This misbelief makes sense – after all, society has weathered several crises surrounding non-renewable energies. Pursuit of nuclear power has led to catastrophic meltdowns that have irreparably damaged ecosystems and made entire cities unsafe to live in, and social fanaticism with carbon-based fuels like oil and natural gas has led to shortages, rationing, and disputes. Fracking has made sinks and spickets spew flammable water, and protested pipelines have spilled toxic oil into the countryside. With all these cataclysms surrounding non-renewable resources, it would only make sense for solar to have been a nonviable option until recent years – however, solar energy has been around nearly as long as the internal combustion engine!
The history of solar energy kicks off nearly 180 years ago, during the mid-nineteenth century. In 1839, French physicist and resident scientist at the Agronomic University of Versailles, Edmond Becquerel, first discovered, observed, and explained the photovoltaic effect – an effect which, in short, explains that certain materials can absorb photonic energy (light!) and create an electric voltage. While Becquerel’s process wouldn’t have been able to power a home or community, it gave us our first introduction to the idea that our fledgling technological world could be powered by a light that never goes out.
Becquerel’s discovery of photovoltaic effects was just the kick off in the solar super bowl. Within four decades of his monumental discovery, selenium became a much-discussed element for solar scientists and researchers alike. In 1873, an English engineer by the name of Willoughby Smith discovered that selenium – an element with a name ironically connected to the moon – possessed photoconductive properties. An extension of the photovoltaic effect, photoconductivity means that a typically inert or electrically insulated substance becomes electrically conductive after it absorbs light.
Within a decade of this study of selenium, the first solar cell was developed in 1883. After coating a sheet of selenium with a thin, almost atom-thick layer of gold, New York inventor Charles Fritts invented the solar cell. While the cell achieved an energy conversion rate of only 1-2%, it was a first step toward a practical application of these centuries-old discoveries.
Keeping that in mind, a seventy-year fast forward to 1953 provides us with just that: solar becoming a viable option to power electrical equipment. Physicists at Bell Laboratories, the same labs founded by Alexander Graham Bell, discovered that silicon, rather than selenium, was more efficient at photoconductive processes. Within five years, solar energy found a home in space: powering the first solar powered satellite, Vanguard 1, for its fifty years of revolutions around the Earth. Paving the way for more research, the launch and orbit of Vanguard 1 led to a drop-in production costs for solar powered cells.
From that point until modern day, the technologies behind solar panel technology have grown by leaps and bounds. The early 1980’s saw the development and grand opening of the first solar parks in sunny California, which are essentially power plants driven by the sun. RV’s started to be commercially produced to include retractable RV solar panels. New solar cell materials boosted conversion efficiency up to 32%, and by the early 2000’s, DIY solar panel kits become popular.
Now, in 2018, solar power is a more viable, environmentally-conscious, and cost-saving option than ever before – and the developments in technology show no signs of stopping. The sun isn’t going out anytime soon – so why should your lights?! Contact the team at Revo Home Solutions today to start your solar home remodeling.
