From the first observation of the photovoltaic effect to the current democratization of solar panels around the world, their history is fascinating. It tells the story of how humanity has learned to harness energy from the sun, an abundant and renewable resource, to produce clean electricity. This article traces the evolution of solar panels, highlighting the major discoveries that have marked their development, the first significant uses, particularly in the space sector, and the current challenges faced by solar panel producers and users. As our society moves towards more sustainable energy solutions, understanding the history and potential of solar PV panels is essential.
The scientific origins of solar panels
The history of photovoltaic solar panels began in 1839, with the discovery of the photovoltaic effect by the French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel. At just 19 years old, he noticed that some materials could generate a weak electric current when exposed to light. This initial observation laid the foundation for what would become photovoltaic technology, although the practical application of this discovery would not be realized until much later.
Over the following decades, interest in the the photovoltaic effect remained mainly academic progress was hampered by a limited understanding of the electrical electrical properties of materials. However, the 20th century brought significant significant advances in semiconductor researchin particular in particular with the discovery of silicon's ability to convert light into electricity. This period laid the foundations for the development of the first practical photovoltaic devices.
Focus on the photoelectric effect
Thephotoelectric effect is the key phenomenon behind the history of solar panels. Discovered by Becquerel in 1839 and later explained by Einstein, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his work, this process transforms sunlight into electricity. When light strikes a semiconductor material, such as the silicon used in solar panels, it releases electrons, creating a flow of electricity. Simple, clean and efficient, the photoelectric effect captures the sun's abundant energy, powering our lives in a renewable way.
Focus on the photoelectric effect
Thephotoelectric effect is the key phenomenon behind the history of solar panels. Discovered by Becquerel in 1839 and later explained by Einstein, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his work, this process transforms sunlight into electricity. When light strikes a semiconductor material, such as the silicon used in solar panels, it releases electrons, creating a flow of electricity. Simple, clean and efficient, the photoelectric effect captures the sun's abundant energy, powering our lives in a renewable way.
Focus on the photoelectric effect
Thephotoelectric effect is the key phenomenon behind the history of solar panels. Discovered by Becquerel in 1839 and later explained by Einstein, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his work, this process transforms sunlight into electricity. When light strikes a semiconductor material, such as the silicon used in solar panels, it releases electrons, creating a flow of electricity. Simple, clean and efficient, the photoelectric effect captures the sun's abundant energy, powering our lives in a renewable way.
The first photovoltaic solar panel and its evolution
1954 marked a turning point with the creation by Bell Labsof the first modern photovoltaic solar panel. This device was capable of converting solar energy into electricity with an efficiency of around 6%, a revolutionary performance for the time. This breakthrough showed that electricity production from solar energy was viable, and opened the door to many potential applications.
Innovation from Bell Labs innovation launched a wave of interest and development around photovoltaic technology. The following years saw continuous improvements in the efficiency and reliability of solar panels, making this energy source increasingly attractive for a variety of applications. Technical innovation, combined with a better understanding of semiconductor materials, has reduced the cost and improved the accessibility of solar panels, paving the way for their growing adoption worldwide.
1954 marked a turning point with the creation by Bell Labsof the first modern photovoltaic solar panel. This device was capable of converting solar energy into electricity with an efficiency of around 6%, a revolutionary performance for the time. This breakthrough showed that electricity production from solar energy was viable, and opened the door to many potential applications. Bell Labs launched a wave of interest and development around photovoltaic technology. The following years saw continuous improvements in the efficiency and reliability of solar panels, making this energy source increasingly attractive for a variety of applications.
Technical innovation, combined with a better understanding of semiconductor materials, has made it possible to and improved accessibility of solar panels, paving the way for theirpaving the way for their growing adoption worldwide.
Pioneers in Photovoltaic Solar Technology
Since the creation of the first modern solar panel by Bell Labs in 1954, several manufacturers have marked the history of solar panels. Hoffmann Electronics soon followed, producing an 8%-efficiency panel as early as 1955 and reaching 10% shortly afterwards. Sharp Corporation, which entered the scene in 1960, played a key role inintroducing solar panels for domestic applications, driving mass production forward. Western Electric helped spread the technology by selling licenses, including for panels with an efficiency of around 11%. These pioneers laid the foundations for a booming solar industry, turning a scientific breakthrough into an energy revolution.
Solar panels in space: a turning point
The history of solar panels takes on a spectacular dimension with their first use in space. Vanguard 1, the satellite launched by the United States in 1958, marked a turning point. This small object of space exploration, no bigger than a basketball, was equipped with six solar cells measuring around 5cm on each side, which enabled it to recharge its battery. Together, these cells only produced around 1 watt of peak power, but this modest energy contribution was enough to power Vanguard 1's (sober) radio transmissions, thus extending its mission far beyond expectations.
The cost of the Vanguard 1 mission, including satellite development and launch, was around $3 million at the time, a considerable sum for the 1950s. Nevertheless, the investment in Vanguard 1 paid invaluable scientific dividends, proving the viability of solar panels in the vacuum of space and the absence of gravity. This feat paved the way for thewidespread use of solar panels in space technologies, from satellites orbiting the Earth to probes sent to the farthest reaches of the solar system.
The success of Vanguard 1 has therefore had an impact out of all proportion to its size and power. By demonstrating the reliability of solar panels in the extreme conditions of space, this mission not only revolutionized satellite design, but also served as a proof of concept for the application of solar technologies in harsh environments on Earth.
The history of solar panels takes on a spectacular dimension with their first use in space. Vanguard 1, the satellite launched by the United States in 1958, marked a turning point. This small object of space exploration, no bigger than a basketball, was equipped with six solar cells measuring around 5cm on each side, which enabled it to recharge its battery. Together, these cells only produced around 1 watt of peak power, but this modest energy contribution was enough to power Vanguard 1's (sober) radio transmissions, thus extending its mission far beyond expectations.
The cost of the Vanguard 1 mission, including satellite development and launch, was approximately 3 million dollars at the timea considerable sum for the 1950s. Nevertheless, the investment in Vanguard 1 paid invaluable scientific dividends, proving the viability of solar panels in the vacuum of space and the absence of gravity.. This feat paved the way forwidespread use of solar panels in space technologies, from satellites orbiting the Earth to probes sent to the farthest reaches of the solar system.
The success of Vanguard 1 has therefore had an impact out of all proportion to its size and power. By demonstrating the reliability of solar panels in the extreme conditions of space, this mission not only revolutionized satellite design, but also served as a proof of concept for the application of solar technologies in harsh environments on Earth.
The democratization of solar panels: performance, cost and global adoption
The democratization of photovoltaic solar panels over the last two decades is an unprecedented energy revolution. Technological advances have catapulted the efficiency of solar panels, with some models now achieving efficiencies in excess of 22%, compared with around 15% just a decade ago. This improvement in efficiency, combined with a significant drop in production costs, has made solar energy increasingly competitive.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the cost of electricity generated by solar photovoltaic technologies has fallen dramatically, by more than 80% since 2010. This has made the average cost of solar electricity competitive with new fossil fuel power plants in many parts of the world. In 2020, the global average cost of electricity generated by solar photovoltaic installations was estimated at around 0.06 USD per kilowatt-hour (kWh), well below the cost of electricity generated by traditional energy sources in many countries.
Solar panel adoption has grown exponentially, with global installed capacity topping 700 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2020, according to data from the International Energy Agency. Europe has long been at the forefront of solar adoption, with countries like Germany and Spain leading the charge. France has also made significant progress, with installed photovoltaic capacity exceeding 10 GW by 2020. That said, China has become the undisputed leader in this field, accounting for overa third of the world's solar capacity, thanks to strong government policies favoring the development of renewable energies.
These advances are supported by incentive policies such as direct subsidiesdirect feed-in tariffs guaranteed feed-in tariffs for solar electricity, and tax credits for solar panel installation. These measures have not only encouraged the rapid expansion of solar energy, but have also contributed to the energy transition to cleaner, renewable sources.
Current challenges and the future of solar panels
Solar energy is at the heart of the global energy transition, offering considerable potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and combating climate change. Solar panels, in particular, have a major role to play, thanks to their ability to provide clean, renewable energy.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), photovoltaic photovoltaic solar energy has the potential become one of the world's most important energy sourceswith an installed capacity that could exceed 6 000 GW by 2030 in the Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS). This scenario envisages a world where climate objectives, notably those of the the Paris Agreement, are achieved and energy-related CO2 emissions reach net zero by 2050.
The lifecycle carbon footprint of solar panels is significantly lower than that of fossil fuels. ADEME estimates that photovoltaic solar power emits between 30 and 55 g eq-CO2/kWh, well below the more than 400 g eq-CO2/kWh for gas-fired power plants and over 1,000 g eq-CO2/kWh for coal-fired power plants. This significant reduction in emissions is crucial in the current context of global warming.
However, the production and recycling of solar panels present challenges. Growing demand for critical materials such as silicon requires sustainable resource management. In addition, as the solar market continues to grow, the development of efficient recycling methods for end-of-life panels becomes imperative to minimize environmental impact.
To overcome these challenges and maximize the potential of solar panels to reduce GHGs, policies to support innovation and the adoption of sustainable practices. practices. Investment in research to improve the efficiency of solar panels and in recycling technologies is essential to ensure a sustainable energy future.
Focus on carbon emissions from electricity generation sources
This infographic from ADEME's Bilan-GES database illustrates the CO2 emissions per kilowatt-hour (kWh) produced by different energy sources. With 43 g/kWh, photovoltaics is a low-emission option, surpassed only by wind power (14.1 g/kWh onshore, 15.6 g/kWh offshore) and hydroelectric power (6 g/kWh). Nuclear power also emerges as a low-emission source, at 6 g/kWh. In comparison, fossil fuels such as coal (1060 g/kWh), fuel oil (730 g/kWh) and gas (418 g/kWh) have far greater impacts, underlining the importance of renewable and nuclear energies in the energy transition to a more sustainable future.
Focus on carbon emissions from electricity generation sources
This infographic from ADEME's Bilan-GES database illustrates the CO2 emissions per kilowatt-hour (kWh) produced by different energy sources. With 43 g/kWh, photovoltaics is a low-emission option, surpassed only by wind power (14.1 g/kWh onshore, 15.6 g/kWh offshore) and hydroelectric power (6 g/kWh). Nuclear power also emerges as a low-emission source, at 6 g/kWh. In comparison, fossil fuels such as coal (1060 g/kWh), fuel oil (730 g/kWh) and gas (418 g/kWh) have far greater impacts, underlining the importance of renewable and nuclear energies in the energy transition to a more sustainable future.
Focus on carbon emissions from electricity generation sources
This infographic from ADEME's Bilan-GES database illustrates the CO2 emissions per kilowatt-hour (kWh) produced by different energy sources. With 43 g/kWh, photovoltaics is a low-emission option, surpassed only by wind power (14.1 g/kWh onshore, 15.6 g/kWh offshore) and hydroelectric power (6 g/kWh). Nuclear power also emerges as a low-emission source, at 6 g/kWh. In comparison, fossil fuels such as coal (1060 g/kWh), fuel oil (730 g/kWh) and gas (418 g/kWh) have far greater impacts, underlining the importance of renewable and nuclear energies in the energy transition to a more sustainable future.
Conclusion
Throughout the development and history of photovoltaic solar panels, we have witnessed a tremendous technological and environmental advance. As we move towards an era where sustainability is paramount, solar panels are proving to be a cornerstone of the energy transition. Not only do they offer a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they also pave the way for renewable energy independence. In the face of sustainability and recycling challenges, continued commitment to innovation and supportive policies will remain crucial. The future of solar panels is bright, promising a significant contribution to a cleaner, greener world. And because we don't just make solar panels at WIND my ROOF, you can also (re)discover the history of wind turbines.
Sources
International Energy Agency (IEA), "Renewables 2020" report. https://www.iea.org
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), "Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021". https://www.irena.org
World Energy Outlook 2020, IEA. https://www.iea.org
U.S. Department of Energy: Solar Achievements Timeline https://www.energy.gov
NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive: Vanguard 1 https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
IEA: Solar PV power capacity in the Net Zero Scenario, 2015-2030 https://www.iea.org