" margin-top: 60pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;
text-align: center; text-indent: 0pt; line-height: 72pt;">Solar Power

An introduction to the history, technologies, policy
applications and future of solar power.

Solar Power: A brief history

7</span><span
style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial'; font-size: 22pt; font-weight: bold;
font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; color: #FFFFFF;"><sup>th century
B.C. A magnifying glass is used to concentrate the suns rays to
light fires for light, warmth and cooking.



1</sup></span><span
style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial'; font-size: 22pt; font-weight: bold;
font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; color: #FFFFFF;">^st
-
4</span><span style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial'; font-size: 22pt;
font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; color: #FFFFFF;
"><sup>th century Roman bath houses are built with large, south-facing
windows to aid in temperature control



13</sup></span><span
style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial'; font-size: 22pt; font-weight: bold;
font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; color: #FFFFFF;"><sup>th century
Ancestors of the Pueblo people known as the Anasazi build south-facing
cliff dwellings that capture the warmth of the winter sun.

Above:  Anasazi cliff dwellings demonstrate
passive solar design techniques.  Passive design is also noted
in the architecture of early Mesopotania and the highly developed societies
of early South America.

[from www.eere.energy.gov]

Solar Power: A brief history

1839 French
scientist Edmond Becquerel discovers the photovoltaic effect while
experimenting with an electrolytic cell composed of two metal electrodes
in conducting solution.


1954 Chapin,
Fuller and Pearson at Bell Telephone Laboratories develop the first silicon
photovoltaic (or PV).  Its the first solar cell capable of generating enough
power from the sun to run everyday electrical equipment. 


Mid-1950s
to 1960 PV efficiency increases from 6% efficiency to 14% in 1960 (Hoffman Electronics). 
Silicon solar cells become the most widely accepted energy source for
space applications.


1970 Dr.
Elliot Berman in conjunction with Exxon Corporation designs a significantly less costly
solar cell, bringing the price down from $100 per watt to $20 per watt.

Solar Power: A brief history

1970s Energy
Crisis: Oil costs $40/barrel, Solar R&D budget increases to $150 million
and a 40% tax credit is offered for residential solar system installs
up to $10,000.


1978 NASAs
Lewis Research Center installs a 3.5-kilowatt photovoltaic system on
Papago Indian Reservation in AZ.  The worlds first village PV system provides enough electricity for 15 homes and eventually
for the entire village (in 1983).


1982 The first megawatt-scale
PV power station goes on line in Hisperia, CA.


1985 Researchers
at University of South Wales break the 20% efficiency barrier for silicon solar cells.


Mid-1980s Oil
costs $10/barrel, solar R&D funding is slashed 75% and residential tax credits are eliminated. 
90% of solar thermal manufacturers go out of business.

Solar Power: A brief history

1993 Pacific
Gas and Electric Company installs the first grid-supported PV system in Kerman, CA.  This 500-kilowatt system is
the first distributed power PV installation.


1996 The
U.S. Department of Energy and an industry consortium begin operating Solar Two an upgrade
to the Solar One concentrating solar power tower. 

Solar Power: A brief history

1998 Subhendu
Guha invents the flexible solar shingle.