With the prevailing increase in energy costs many have been looking to alternate power sources. One of the best energy sources ( our sun ) is generally available to take. We need to be in a position to harness it’s power. For those interested, below is a short recap of how solar power came to be. The history of photovoltaic energy ( aka. Solar cells ) started back in 1876.

An electricity expert, Werner von Siemens, said the discovery was ‘scientifically of the most far reaching importance’. The selenium cells weren’t efficient, though it was proved that light, without heat or moving parts, might be changed into electricity. In 1953, Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson, and Daryl Chapin, discovered the silicon solar power cell.

The NY Times related that this discovery was ‘the start of a new time, leading at last to the realization of using the almost inexhaustible energy of the sun for the usages of civilization. ‘ The year is 1956, and the initial photovoltaic power cells are available commercially. The price ticket however is a long way from the reach of everyday people. At $300 for an one watt photovoltaic cell, the price tag was miles beyond anyone’s means. 1956 started showing us the first photovoltaic cells utilized in toys and radios. These novelty items were the 1st item to have solar power cells available to consumers.

In the early 1970′s a technique to lower to price of photovoltaic power cells was found. This brought the price down from $100 per watt to about $20 per watt. This analysis was fronted by Exxon. Most off-shore oil rigs exploited the photovoltaic power cells to power the fading lights on top of the rigs. They started showing up on railroad crossings, in remote places to power houses, Australia used photovoltaic power cells in their microwave towers to grow their telecommunication capacities. You will see solar powered cars. With the price of photovoltaic power cells well within everyone’s budget, solar energy has not looked so appealing. Lately advanced technology has given us screen published solar power cells, and a solar fabric that can be made use of to side a home, even solar shingles that install on our roofs.

World markets have opened up and photovoltaic power cell makers are now playing a major role in the solar power industry.

Read more about solar panel uk and building solar panels on my blog.