With the existing energy increase costs many have been looking to alternate power sources. One of the best sources of energy ( our sun ) is usually available to take. We simply need to be in a position to harness it’s power. For those interested, below is a short summarize 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 that the discovery was ‘scientifically of the most far reaching importance’. The selenium cells weren’t efficient, though it was showed clearly that light, without heat or moving parts, could be modified into electricity. In 1953, Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson, and Daryl Chapin, discovered the silicon photovoltaic power cell.

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

In the early 1970′s a strategy to lower to cost of photovoltaic power cells was discovered. 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 homes, Australia used solar power cells in their microwave towers to grow their telecommunication capacities. You will see solar powered cars. With the cost of photovoltaic power cells well inside everybody’s budget, solar electricity has not looked so attracting. Latterly 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 solar power cell makers are now playing a big part in the solar energy industry.

Read more about how does solar energy work and how does solar energy work on my blog.