1980

Photovoltaic panels from 1980

The $22/Watt Elephant in the Room Here's the kicker: In 1980, solar panels cost $22 per watt (adjusted for inflation). That's like paying $22,000 for a 1kW home system today! Even with tax credits, you'd need 40+ years to break even. No wonder most homeowners thought, "Why. . In the 19th century, it was observed that the sunlight striking certain materials generates detectable electric current – the photoelectric effect. This discovery laid the foundation for solar cells. Solar cells have gone on to be used in many applications. I purchased and installed my first solar electric panel—technically known as a photovoltaic module—in 1980. In the late 1980s, when Switzerland was just beginning to experiment with solar power, engineers bolted a few shiny panels onto rooftops, mountain stations, and even utility-scale farms. Here you can learn more about the milestones in the historical development of solar technology, century by century, and year by year. Magnifying glass used to concentrate sun's rays to. .

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