Development Of The First Solar Panels

The development of solar cell technology or photovoltaic pv technology began during the industrial revolution when french physicist alexandre edmond becquerellar first demonstrated the photovoltaic effect or the ability of a solar cell to convert sunlight into electricity in 1839.

Development of the first solar panels.

1954 on april 25 1954 bell labs announces the invention of the first practical silicon solar cell. Therefore some consider the true invention of solar panels to be tied to daryl chapin calvin fuller and gerald pearson s creation of the silicon photovoltaic pv cell at bell labs in 1954. Shortly afterwards they are shown at the national academy of science meeting. These cells have about 6 efficiency.

Almost 50 years after the photovoltaic effect s discovery in 1883 american inventor charles fritz created the first working selenium solar cell 3though we use silicon in cells for modern solar panels this solar cell was a major precursor to the technology used today. While working on the coating of platinum electrodes using silver chloride he discovered a rise in voltage on exposure to light. 1954 photovoltaic technology is born in the united states when daryl chapin calvin fuller and gerald pearson develop the silicon photovoltaic pv cell at bell labs the first solar cell capable of converting enough of the sun s energy into power to run everyday electrical equipment. However solar cells as we know them today are made with silicon not selenium.

It all started in 1839 with 19 year old physicist named edmond becquerel. Courtesy of john perlin take a light step back to 1883 when new york inventor charles fritts created the first. In a way many physicists played a part in solar cell invention. Therefore the credit for the invention of the modern solar panel cannot go to a single individual entity.

1953 gerald pearson begins research into lithium silicon photovoltaic cells.