We all know about solar energy and how great it is. With different researchers coming up with new ways to make this technology more cost effective and efficient, we see a drastic price decrease per watt.

Early Solar Power

Solar power has been around for much longer than many people realize. In fact, solar power has been around since the 1800s. The first notable breakthrough came about in 1839. When a 19 year old french physicist, Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered that silver chloride could generate electricity when exposed to light under the right conditions. His discovery became known as the photovoltaic or Becquerel effect.

Alexandre Edmond Becquerel

Some years later, Russian physicist Aleksandr Stoletov used the becquerel theory to develop the first solar cell in 1888.

Solar power remained relatively unknown until a 1904 paper by Albert Einstein caught the attention of the American scientific community. Einstein’s paper was largely based on the photoelectric effect described by Stoletov.

The evolution of the solar cell

More than 50 years later, the first modern photovoltaic cell was developed by Bell Laboratories. These cells were just not eficient enough for residential or commercial use. However, they contributed largely to space exploration, with the Vanguard 1 spacecraft using solar energy as a backup power system after its 1958 launch.

Solar technology continued to evolve through the 60s and 70s. By the 90s, efficiency had improved and cost had dropped to the point where it was actually starting to be practical for residential and commercial use. With manufacturing methods becoming more affordable, prices continued to drop during the 2000s. Many governments have invested in solar buyback programs to decrease their carbon footprint.

The Vanguard 1

Improved efficiency

To put it in perspective, the cells developed at Bell Laboratories were operating at about 1% efficiency. The cells on the vanguard 1 operated at about 10% with the most cutting edge technology available at the time. Solar panels commonly used today operate at anywhere between 13 and 22%. We expect to see major advances in the next few years with the likes of Tesla investing in solar research.

Is it worth going solar?

Yes! With load shedding here to stay for a long time, solar energy can keep your lights on. Furthermore, a solar system can save you thousands of rands every month by reducing your Eskom bill.