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US Solar Industry

112 events in this timeline

Open-Content investigative project managed by matt, Derek, KJF, mtuck

This is the home page for the US Solar Industry investigative project, one of several grassroots investigations being hosted on the History Commons website. The data published as part of this investigation has been collected, organized, and published by members of the public who are registered users of this website.

Showing 51–100 of 112

  1. 1873-1876: Selenium Shown to be Photoconductive, Generates Electricity Using Sunlight
  2. 1880: Bolometer Invented
  3. 1883: Inventor Describes Selenium Solar Cells
  4. 1887: Scientist Shows that UV Light Alters Electrical Voltage
  5. 1891: Baltimore Inventor Patents First Solar Water Heater
  6. 1905: Einstein Writes about Photoelectric Effect
  7. 1909-1918: New Solar Water Heater Design Dramatically Increases Length of Time Water Remains Hot, Sells Well
  8. 1916: Scientist Proves Photovoltaic Effect
  9. 1930s - 1940s: Florida Experiences Brief Boom in Solar Water Heater Sales, Ended by Aggressive Marketing Campaign by Electric Company
  10. 1931: Edison Advocates for Solar Energy over Fossil Fuels
  11. 1940: Bell Lab Researcher Inadvertently Discovers ‘P-N Junction,’ Basis of Modern Solar Cells
  12. 1947: Glass Company Publishes Book Touting Solar Power for Homes
  13. 1954: Bell Labs Creates First Silicon Photovoltaic Cell
  14. 1955: Western Electric Sells PV Licenses
  15. 1956: First Commercial Office Building Using Solar Energy Constructed in New Mexico
  16. 1956-1958: Scientists Discuss, Create PV Cells for Orbital Satellites
  17. 1958-1962: US, Russian Satellites Use Solar Cells to Power Systems
  18. 1960: Wisconsin Firm Begins Producing Commercial PV Cells
  19. 1963: Japan Installs Huge PV Array on Lighthouse
  20. 1965: First Satellite Solar Power Station Design Patented
  21. 1966: NASA Launches Solar-Powered Astronomical Observatory
  22. 1969: France Builds Odeilo Solar Furnace
  23. 1970s: Scientists Design Less Costly Solar Cell, Used in Many Applications
  24. 1972: France Installs Solar-Powered Television Station in Niger
  25. 1972: Institute of Energy Conversion Established
  26. 1973: Greek Navy Uses Focused Sunlight to Set Wooden Boat Afire
  27. 1973: University of Delaware Builds Solar-Powered Residence
  28. 1976-1995: NASA Installs Solar Power Systems Around Globe
  29. 1977: National Renewable Energy Laboratory Launched
  30. 1978: NASA Powers Indian Village with Solar Energy
  31. 1981: Inventor Builds Solar-Powered Plane, Flies It across English Channel
  32. 1982: California Town Begins Drawing Electricity from Solar-Powered Station
  33. 1982: ’Solar One’ Produces Ten Megawatts of Electricity
  34. 1982: First Solar-Powered Car Makes Record-Breaking Run in Australia
  35. 1982: Volkswagen Tests Solar Power for Station Wagon
  36. 1983: Central California Solar Power Substation Powers 2,500 Homes
  37. 1983: Solar House Operates in Hudson River Valley
  38. 1986: Largest Solar-Thermal Power Facility Opens in California
  39. 1988: Solar Power Technologies Patented
  40. 1993: California Utility Begins Operating Grid-Supported Solar Electricity System
  41. 1994: NREL Constructs Efficient Solar Cell
  42. 1994: Solar Energy Research Facility Completed
  43. 1996: Solar-Powered Aircraft Flies over Germany
  44. 1996: US DOE Launches ‘Solar Two’ Facility
  45. 1998: Solar Shingles Designed to Replace Conventional Roofing Material
  46. 1999: New York Skyscraper Incorporates Solar Panels for Energy
  47. 1999: New PV Cell Breaks Efficiency Records for Conversion
  48. 2000: First Solar Begins Production of Solar Panels
  49. 2000: Space Station Equipped with Powerful Solar Array
  50. 2000: Colorado Family Installs Largest Residential Solar Power System