The photovoltaic and energy storage industries started late

How did solar energy grow in the late 2000s?

The late 2000s was a crucial time for the growth of solar energy. Global investment in clean energy exceeds $100 billion, with solar energy as the leading clean energy technology for venture capital and private equity investment. The solar tax credit helped to create unprecedented growth in the U.S. solar industry from 2006 to 2007.

What is photovoltaics & why is it important?

Though solar energy has found a dynamic and established role in today's clean energy economy, there's a long history behind photovoltaics (PV) that brought the concept of solar energy to fruition.

What is the future of photovoltaics?

Photovoltaics research and development will continue intense interest in new ma-terials, cell designs, and novel approaches to solar material and product develop-ment. It is a future where the clothes you wear and your mode of transportation can produce power that is clean and safe.

When was photovoltaic efficiency first achieved?

Between 1957 and 1960, Hoffman Electronics made a number of breakthroughs with photovoltaic efficiency, improving the efficiency record from 8% to 14%. The next major achievement was in 1985 when the University of New South Wales achieved 20% efficiency for silicon cells.

How did Becquerel discover the photovoltaic effect?

In experimenting with metal electrodes and electrolyte solutions, Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect—the creation of electric current in a material upon exposure to light. This groundbreaking finding showed that it was possible to convert sunlight into electrical energy.