Regardless of why solar power is interesting to you there is a robust and fascinating history behind solar s rise to relevant status.
How have solar panels changed over time.
The advances of the 60s and 70s drove the price per watt of solar energy from 100 down to around 20.
A lot has changed in the world of solar electricity in the last decade making it a brighter time than even to harvest the sun and the market is responding accordingly.
Solar has a long list of meanings in today s day and age.
By 1977 solar panels had advanced so far that president jimmy carter had them installed at the white house and even provided incentives for solar power.
There is now 20 gw of installed electricity generating capacity in the united state enough to power 4 million homes.
This increased photovoltaic production which hit 21 3 megawatts in 1983.
Modern panels and rack materials require minimal rewiring or hardware to install and are lighter and easier to manage than the heavy arrays of decades past.
Key takeaways solar panel efficiency has dramatically improved over time and panels continue to push new limits each year at the same time the cost of going solar continues to drop for property owners start comparing custom solar quotes on the energysage marketplace to see your potential savings.
The very first solar cells invented in the 1800s were less than one percent efficient not nearly enough to make them a useful energy source.
Over the last ten years solar panels have seen many improvements in their design and implementationto reduce costs and improve the installation process.
During the 1970s solar panels became more efficient in part due to the work of the solar power corporation.
Solar panel efficiency over time.