Thought Leadership
May 2, 2023
Written by Walter Bronson
Solar power is the energy delivered to the earth by the sun. Humans have harnessed the power of the sun and its heat to move civilization forward. You probably learned about photosynthesis in middle or high school.
Using solar power in modern culture
There are two forms of energy generated from the sun for our use: electricity and heat. For example, early 20th century solar systems heated water to generate warmth for homes. Now, we’re seeing solar installations pop up across the U.S., from massive solar farms spanning hundreds or thousands of acres, to residential roof-mounted solar panels in homes across suburbia. But it’s not just solar farms, solar power can also be harnessed and stored for later uses.
Photovoltaic cells
The modern photovoltaic cell has its roots in selenium wafers developed by Charles Fritts in 1883. Today’s most common photovoltaic cells are made of silicone and were developed by Daryl Chapman, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson at Bell Labs in 1954. That cell had an efficiency of just 4%, meaning it converted 4% of the incoming solar power to electricity. Today’s solar cells in lab testing environments have an efficiency approaching 50%.
Battery energy storage systems
It’s becoming increasingly popular for solar systems to include battery energy storage systems (BESS) on residential, commercial, industrial, and even utility scale projects. BESS store energy is generally used for onsite use either at night, when power isn’t generated from solar, or in the event of a power failure. Lithium ion batteries, like those used in many electric vehicles, are a popular choice for residential and commercial systems. Other options include older lead acid or newer flow batteries.