The History of Solar PV

For 15 years, our team at Mypower has been dedicated to harnessing the incredible power of the sun and saving our customers money in the process. As we celebrate this significant milestone, we can’t help but reflect on the journey of solar energy and look forward to the future that lies ahead. 

 

A look into the past

The concept of using the sun’s energy isn’t a new one. As far back as the 7th century, people were using magnifying glasses to concentrate sunlight and light fires. Greeks and Romans used "burning mirrors" to light torches for religious purposes. By the sixth century A.D., sunrooms were becoming more and more common on houses. The Justinian Code established "sun rights" to ensure that everyone has access to light. The early uses of solar energy were for heat generation and passive solar design. This addressed everything, from where to set your doors and windows to warming items that hold their heat all night. This was carried out to determine which constructions produced the greatest heat.

However, the real breakthrough came in 1839, when French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon that produces voltage or electric current in a material upon exposure to sunlight. Charles Fritts later used this by applying a tiny film of gold to the semiconductor selenium. The first solid-state photovoltaic cell was constructed. Aleksandr Stoletov, a Russian physicist, in 1888. Based on the outer photoelectric effect, he constructed the first photoelectric cell. Heinrich Hertz was the first to notice the effect in 1887. The photoelectric effect occurs when light energy is absorbed by solids, liquids, or gases. As a result, the solar heater unit was developed in 1891.  

The first practical solar cell was invented in 1954 at Bell Labs, marking a revolutionary breakthrough. Initially, these cells were incredibly expensive and inefficient, primarily used for powering satellites in space. However, as the decades passed, relentless innovation and research drove costs down and efficiency up. The oil crisis in the 1970s further accelerated interest in alternative energy sources, and solar began to slowly make its way into homes and businesses.

Albert Einstein described this photoelectric effect and the underlying ideas of light-initiated carrier excitation in a paper from 1905. In 1921, he received the physics Nobel Prize. William J. Bailey produced The Copper Collector in 1908, maybe in response to Einstein's theory. The collector improved the performance of the initial collection method by only using copper insulation. The 1946 patent for the modern junction semiconductor solar cell was obtained by Russell Ohl.

The first newspaper reports on global warming started appearing in 1953. This set an awareness among the public. A year later, the first practical solar cell was developed in 1954 by Bell Laboratorie’s Calvin Souther Fuller, Daryl Chaplin, and Gerald Pearson. A few years after this, the U.S. Signal Corps Laboratories started creating photovoltaic cells for Earth-orbiting satellites. The solar array for the Vanguard 1 space mission was the end outcome.

A company called Hoffman Electronics was able to increase productivity to 14%. Due to improvements, there were various attempts to commercialise solar photovoltaics in the 1950s and 1960s.

By the year 1980, ARCO Solar had built solar panel manufacturing facilities that could yearly produce photovoltaic modules with a capacity of more than 1 megawatt. The business helped build the first megawatt-scale power plant in Hesperia, California. In order to produce heat, Solar One produced a current of 10 megawatts by focusing solar energy onto a single focal point by The University of South Wales had increased the efficiency of silicone solar cells to 20%.

In 1994, the American National Renewable Energy Laboratory invented the solar cell. The cell was constructed using gallium arsenide and gallium-indium phosphide. It is more efficient than the required 30 percent, meaning that 30 percent of the solar energy striking it is converted into usable power.

 

The present day

Today, solar technology is no longer a niche technology; it is a global powerhouse. The last 15 years in particular have been a period of explosive growth and transformation.

Thanks to technological advancements, solar panels are now more efficient, durable, and aesthetically pleasing than ever. The cost of panels has plummeted, making solar power a financially smart choice for millions of businesses, especially ones that have been affected by rising grid-supplied electricity costs.

The environmental impact of solar energy is impossible to deny, and with a growing awareness of climate change, solar has emerged as a key player in the transition to a clean energy economy. Every solar panel installed not only helps businesses reduce their energy bills but also reduces our collective carbon footprint and contributes towards a healthier planet for future generations. 

 

A bright future

The next 15 years promise to be even more transformative for businesses that embrace solar energy. We’re moving away from simple cost savings and entering an era where solar is a core component of a resilient and competitive business strategy. We envisage a future where businesses will increasingly rely on on-site solar to achieve energy independence and safeguard against grid outages, ensuring uninterrupted operations and protecting critical infrastructure. 

As investors and consumers demand greater accountability, businesses will leverage solar investments to meet ambitious ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals. Proactive adoption of clean energy will be a power differentiator, strengthening brand reputation nd attracting top talent. 

At Mypower, we are committed to helping your business navigate this future. We look forward to continuing to be your strategic partner, designing and installing solar PV solutions that not only lower your operating costs but also future-proof your business in an evolving energy landscape.