The Story of Solar Panels Solar energy has been a topic of interest for almost 150 years. Commercial solar water heaters began to appear in the 1890s, but it’s only in the last few decades that solar energy has become more widely used. Now, with new advances in technology, solar energy through the use of solar panels is more accessible and affordable than ever before. wasn’t until just a few decades ago that solar panels became. Solar energy was first conceived as a possible energy solution in the 1860s. This was largely due to the fear that the availability of the fossil fuel coal would decrease dramatically. Although there has been interest in solar energy for more then a century, interest stagnated in the twentieth century when coal and petroleum were plentiful. However, starting with the scarcity of gasoline in the 1970s, people began to again look at the possibilities with solar energy.
The Beginning The decade that began unprecedented solar energy growth was in the 1990s. It is said that solar energy use increased by about 20 percent each year—year after year. And that growth continues, largely to dramatic improvements to the technology of solar panels. This improvement has made solar panels more efficient and less expensive. One solar panel that is at the top of the market for efficiency at a good price is the Phonosolar 250 watt AC panel. The Phonosolar 250 watt AC panel has been recognized as an award winning solar panel; the company, Phono solar, has received high praise for their dedication to technological innovations and system development. Although true efficiency rating depends greatly on location, this panel has been rated with a 17 percent efficiency rating. One of the reasons it does so well is the technology has made it possible to maximize the output earned in weak lighting situations; making it possible to get more energy from less favorable conditions. It also has a superb warranty, with a 12 year workmanship warranty and a 25 year output warranty. It also is able to withstand the harshest environments, preventing ammonia corrosion, salt mist corrosion, and also has a category ‘C’ fire test certification.
Innovation Thanks to innovative technology, solar panel companies have been able to produce more efficient panels at a lower cost. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the average cost of an installed watt has decreased by 24.4 percent in 2013. This price decrease is largely due to importing relatively inexpensive photovoltaic panels from China. These inexpensive panels paired with growing knowledge and technology has made solar energy much more affordable not only for corporations, but also for homes. With the decreasing costs and increased efficiency solar panels are becoming more prevalent in the United States. Incentives from the government, such as the Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Program, also help increase the number of solar energy consumers. The increased level of efficiency is a great improvement for the industry. Now, with the same amount of physical space necessary for the solar panels, people can get 0.3 percent more energy from the panels. This may seem like a small improvement, but, depending on the location, this improvement can be as much as a 20 percent increase in efficiency. Photo Credit: Roland Peschetz, Activ Solar, Julia Manzerova