The History of Solar Power
The origins of solar power begin with a French physicist named Edmond Becquerel, who in 1839 found that rays from the sun contain energy and that certain materials conduct more electricity when exposed to light from the sun. This discovery became known as “the photoelectric effect.” In 1877, an English engineer by the name of Willoughby Smith built the first photoelectrical cell.
Albert Einstein received a Nobel Prize in 1912 for this research on the photoelectric effect. The commercial production of solar photoelectrical cells (also known as photovoltaic cells) began in the mid-1950s. Photovoltaic cells were used a power source for the Vanguard I satellite in 1958.
Innovations in photovoltaics have continued over the past few decades. Today, these cells are part of home solar power systems that provide a viable alternative to conventional forms of energy. According to GlobalData report entitled "The US Solar PV Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013," photovoltaic production has increased at a rate of about 50% per year since 2002. It is currently the fastest growing field of energy technology.
How Solar Power Works in the Home
Solar energy can be brought to a home through the installation of solar panels that contain photovoltaic cells. This is how a solar energy system works:
- Solar cells collect energy from the sun, which is converted to DC (direct current) electricity.
- An inverter converts the DC electricity into AC (alternating current) electricity.
- The converted AC electricity is added to your utility company’s electrical grid and you are credited for it.
- A bi-directional power meter shows your home’s power consumption. When your solar system generates more energy than you use, the power meter moves backward to show negative power consumption. When your home uses more energy than your solar system has generated, the meter moves forward as it normally would and you will owe money to the power company.
The Advantages of Solar Power
Solar power provides a way to decrease your dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels. In areas with warm climates, a home solar power system can generate a large portion of the electricity used in the home and reduce your dependence on your local power utility. You will be protected from spikes in energy costs. An additional benefit of solar power comes in the form of federal, state and local tax credits and other financial incentives. A solar power system can also increase the resale value of a home. Perhaps the most important benefit of a home solar power system is that solar energy is clean and non-polluting. Solar power protects the environment and reduces greenhouse gases.
Catie Watson - Catie Watson is a freelance writer from Huntington Beach, California. She has a BA in English from UC Berkeley and a BS in Computer ...
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