1.04 – History of Photovoltaics

Solar energy is not an emerging principle that has recently been developed by scientists, but rather it is a source of free energy that has been available as long as mankind has existed. Every civilization has in its own way used this energy to improve its living standards and hence modernize and upgrade its society, be it for basic items such as heat, food, or light. Advancing technology over the generations has created new opportunities for capturing and utilizing this energy. It has taken more than one scientist over the past century to emerge with the technology and devices to convert this source into what our current society requires. A tremendous amount of work has been done along the way to test and upgrade developments to produce a cost-effective photovoltaic solar energy product that the consumer confidently acknowledges is a viable product. However, the battle is not over as there is still much development that can be completed in this area over the next century to enhance and improve the product. Currently, we are a civilization that predominantly uses solar energy to support regular electricity supplies, but the pertinent question is – “Can scientists, engineers, and researchers find that ‘Eureka Moment’ that will ensure renewable energy becomes the primary source of energy worldwide?”