Comments on: The long history of solar PV

By: So Cal Sola

So Cal Sola — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 04:35:02 +0000

This is a wonderful summary of the history of solar power. It really illustrates how fast developments have happened more recently. I am sure this will continue in the future.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 01:07:05 +0000

I’m on my second solar system. The first 1.2kW system was installed in 2005 and I ended up replacing it 10 years later with a 6.6kw because it made financial sense to do so, mainly due to increased efficiency and the government incentives. This one will definitely pay for itself but the first one was a waste of money.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 00:43:12 +0000

Awesome article. Crazy to think it dates all the way back to the 1800s. In the last 50 years, there’s been so much progress. I feel lucky to be at this point in time. I have a solar panel business and even within the period of 5 years I’ve noticed such a change in attitudes within society. And technologically too, constantly evolving. I recently read an article mentioning a PV cell being made in South Korea which is the size of a human hair. Incredible.

By: Oren Goldin

Oren Goldin — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:02:09 +0000

In reply to Jeff Spies. Whats the name of the documentary film? I would like to watch it.

By: AJ Weerasinghe

AJ Weerasinghe — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 05:21:21 +0000

The future is very bright for solar PV.
Storage and synchrophasors will make solar PV snd renewables even more wide spread. People will wonder, how did we do it without renewables at all.

By: Jeff Spies

Jeff Spies — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 23:35:12 +0000

Rumor has it there is a new documentary film that tells the story of the start of the PV industry 😉

By: Salah A

Salah A — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:05:39 +0000

One step for mankind one big step for…

By: Albert Nunez

Albert Nunez — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 00:00:03 +0000

Very good summary. To add a bit to the bones of the founding charter meeting of the Solar Energy Industries Association, it happened in Denver Colorado at the Solar Heating, Cooling and Energy Conservation Conference that was held from May 1, 2 & 3, 1974. Jim Ince was voted to be the Executive Director and Sheldon Butt, President.

By: MILES C RUSSELL

MILES C RUSSELL — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 18:05:32 +0000

The big event in 1998 was that California began its rebate program to kick-start the market for grid-tied PV.
This thrust CA into a national leadership position, and provided a model for other states to follow.

By: Dell Jones

Dell Jones — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 17:31:04 +0000

Don’t forget the other Solar –
Prior to 1985 the solar industry called PV Potentially Viable. PV modules were very expensive and Solar Thermal was the Solar Industry.

While you have covered the PV side of solar we should be aware of the other solar – Solar Thermal. In 1984, a 240 MW equivalent solar thermal system was installed at Packerland in WI, with thermal storage. The project had an equivalent of 84 MW of storage. The cost of this project if built today would be the equivalent of 2¢/kWh.

Solar Thermal energy can still contribute significantly to our energy needs at a very competitive cost. The technology remains an under appreciated technology with current US based manufacturers producing at a fraction of their capacity due to the lack of applications engineering knowledge and a fixation with PV at the only form of solar energy.

By: J. Silver

J. Silver — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 19:07:58 +0000

Maybe include the innovation of violet cells by J. Lindemeyer and Allison in 1972 which improved the efficiency of silicon solar cells by 20% in 1972.

Also reference the pioneering work of Dr. Martin Green at the University of New South Wales.