Spinoffs

Solar Technology (By: Aaron Pekelsky) Solar tech is technology that uses photovoltaic power or the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Also it is one of the most available sources around the world. Though it is intermittent. So it needs an alternative power source such as wind power, hydro electricity, and wave power and/or a storage unit.

Solar tech allows the use of solar power witch can be converted to electricity with solar cells (also known as solar panels) solar cells were originally known as photovoltaic meaning light (photo) electricity (voltaic) Solar tech was first discovered in 1866, but was not actually successful until the 1880’s, when Charles Frittes invented the solar cell, though the solar cell was not to useful seeing as it could only convert about 0.9-1.4% of the sunlight into electricity. Though not a huge amount it was still a big discovery.

In 1958 NASA tested a new version of the solar cell, by creating the first solar powered satellite the Vanguard I. the solar cell was just added as a back up source. And yet it ran for years on just solar power after its chemical battery died. Solar tech became a really big hit during the 1970’s, because of the oil shortage and energy crises. Between 1970 and 1980 solar tech installations increased rapidly. But falling oil prices in the early 1980’s slowed the growth of solar technology tell about mid 1990’s.

Since the year 2000 solar tech has shot up by about 40%. And by about 2007 50% of commercial systems were solar powered. Because since 2006 it has been economical for investors to install solar tech for free in return for a long term power purchase agreement. It is expected that 90% of commercial systems will be solar powered by 2009.