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Society: IEEE Main Category: Electric Sub Category: Era: 1950-1959 DateCreated: 1959 Osaka State: Zip: Country: Japan Website: http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:Commercialization_and_Industrialization_of_Photovoltaic_Cells,_1959 Creator: Sharp Corporation
In 1954 three researchers at Bell Laboratories published the results of their discovery of the world’s first practical ‘photovoltaic’ (henceforth abbreviated by ‘PV’) cell which was capable of converting sunlight into electricity, first at 4% and later at 6% conversion-efficiency[1]. In 1959 Sharp Corporation began R&D of silicon monocrystal PV-cells, with mass production starting in 1963[2], and commercialized a variety of mono/multi-crystalline PV-cells for everything from satellites to lighthouses, and industrial applications to residential use[2].
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Image Credit: Courtesy NREL Image Caption: Silicon solar array connected to the roof of a commercial building. Era_date_from: 1959
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In 1954 three researchers at Bell Laboratories published the results of their discovery of the world’s first practical ‘photovoltaic’ (henceforth abbreviated by ‘PV’) cell which was capable of converting sunlight into electricity, first at 4% and later at 6% conversion-efficiency[1]. In 1959 Sharp… Read More

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