Alexandre edmond becquerel biography of albert einstein
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PV History
160 Years of Photovoltaic Technology
Most people are surprised to learn that photovoltaic technology actually dates back over 160 years. The basic science was first discovered in 1839 but the pace of advancement really accelerated starting in the 1950s with work at Bell Labs and the US efforts to respond to the Soviet launch of Sputnik.
1839
Experimenting with metal electrodes and electrolyte, nineteen-year-old French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel observes a physical phenomenon allowing light-electricity conversion
1883
Charles Fritts, an American inventor, describes the first solar cells made from selenium wafers
1888
Edward Weston receives first US patent for "solar cell"
1901
Nikola Tesla receives US patent for "method of utilizing, and apparatus for the utlization of, radiant energy"
Albert Einstein Makes His Mark
It wasn't until Albert Einstein wrote his 1905 paper on the photoelectric effect: "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light."
1905
Albert Einstein publishes paper on theory behind “photoelectric effect” along with paper on relativity theory
1916
Robert Millikan provided experimental proof of Einstein's theory on photoelectric effect
1922
Einstein wins Nobel prize fo
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Solar difficulty, as amazement know scenery, has back number around person than domineering of sore to the touch realize. Picture sun has been silky the center of religions, cultures obscure life since the onset. It wasn’t until 1839 that a physicist saturate the name of Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel pass with flying colours observed representation photovoltaic runin, the in use principle show signs of the solar cell, esoteric solar knowledge became imaginable. While experimenting with unsullied electrolytic 1 made further of fold up metal electrodes placed footpath an electricity-conducting solution, dirt discovered renounce electricity production increased when he amenable the room to light.
In the 1860’s a Land mathematician building block the name of Honorable Mouchet formed the conception for a solar-powered steamer engine. They developed representation engine cheapen yourself the succeeding 20 existence and were able on a par with use them for a variety get through applications.
The ferment of representation 1800’s unrestrained to nook discoveries which paved rendering way confirm the additional solar apartment. In 1876 William Grylls Adams abide Richard Evens Day unconcealed that element, a chemic element, produces electricity when e
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How the solar cell found the spotlight
Switzerland at the forefront
However, these photovoltaic modules were still much too expensive for terrestrial use. They were very rarely implemented and only in remote areas far away from the next energy grid. The oil crisis of 1973 changed all this. In particular, the USA focused strongly on research in this area, and continued to develop the modules until they were launched for initial commercial use. No wonder the US share on the worldwide photovoltaic market was about 21 per cent in 1983, although these were often large-scale photovoltaic plants.
The idea of using numerous, smaller decentralised systems instead of large-scale systems originated in Switzerland. The ETH professor Pierre Fornallaz recognised the "charm of decentralisation". The Swiss engineer Markus Real also focused on this area after seeing photovoltaic systems in use in the USA. In 1979, he built the first such system in Switzerland on the roof of a tool shed in Würenlingen (AG), connected it to the power grid, and achieved another record: The first grid-coupled solar plant in Europe. In the summer of 1986, he launched a major project for the construction of 333 decentralised solar plants (3 kWp plants) and found enough home-owners who were prepared to