Who invented solar energy panels

New developments like light-sensitive nanoparticles and gallium arsenide may potentially be able to capture sunlight more efficiently than existing PV cells, and advancements in solar energy storage technology are also being developed. As solar technology continues to improve, new solar cells made from novel materials will continue to become more efficient at converting light into electricity.

Combined with increasingly lower cost, solar power is poised to be one of the most important renewable energy technologies of the coming decades. Interested in learning how solar power compares to wind power? Power your home with solar energy, wind energy , and other completely clean and renewable energy sources. Take advantage of switching to a renewable energy plan today with Inspire, a trusted renewable energy company working to make the world a better place.

You can also read the latest Inspire Energy reviews to see how we've helped customers make the switch. Ready to make the switch to clean energy? Get started You may also like. Looking to replace your old appliances? A year later ARCO released the first commercially available thin-film solar power module. The cell was made from gallium indium phosphide and gallium arsenide.

A skyscraper in New York City right used these new higher efficiency thin cells on a selection of its floors. They helped to meet the buildings energy needs a few years later. We now reach the year Construction of solar panels at the largest plant reached a production capacity of megawatts of power a year.

Solar power had become big business for producers and sellers the world over. People worldwide, especially those in leadership roles were becoming increasingly aware of the need to lower our dependence on fossil fuels.

More eco-friendly means of powering our lives needed to be found. Scientific endeavour in the renewable energy industry was increasing greatly. Solar power was the flagship technology.

At the turn of the century, large domestic and commercial solar initiatives were in play. In , Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a scheme for 1 million solar roofs. Germany and other nations had developed a highly successful domestic solar PV market. They also offered an install service which started the ball rolling here in the UK.

Now we are all familiar with solar photovoltaic arrays. We can see them on the roofs of the buildings around us. At the end of there were , solar power projects in the United Kingdom. This is based on government predictions — all thanks to technological developments, helped by the fact that we have an insolation level like that of Germany. Insolation level is short for incident or incoming solar radiation.

Germany is, and has been, by far the biggest market for domestic photovoltaics. The country currently has more than one third capacity installed. Installing solar is also more affordable now due to installation costs dropping over 70 percent in the last decade.

That said, at least until recently, the means to find a viable and affordable energy solution is more important than making solar cells aesthetically pleasing or beautiful. Today, companies are striving towards better looking and advanced solar technology, such as building-applied photovoltaic BAPV. This type of discreet solar cell is integrated into existing roof tiles or ceramic and glass facades of buildings.

Solus Engineering, Enpulz, Guardian Industries Corporation, SolarCity Corporation, United Solar Systems, and Tesla after their merger with SolarCity have all been issued patents for solar cells that are much more discreet than the traditional solar panel.

All of the patents incorporate photovoltaic systems, which transform light into electricity using semiconducting materials such as silicon. Solar panels and solar technology has come a long way, so these patented inventions are proof that the technology is still improving its efficiency and aesthetics.

Learn more about the U. Patent and Trademark Office Learn More. The Editorial Staff of Smithsonian magazine had no role in this content's preparation. A Brief History of Solar Panels Inventors have been advancing solar technology for more than a century and a half, and improvements in efficiency and aesthetics keep on coming.

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