Solar Photovoltaic Basics, A Study Guide for the NABCEP Entry Level Exam by Sean White4324

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PV markets and
applications
Chapter
1
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PV
TECHNOLOGY
1839: Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect.
1905: Einstein described the photoelectric effect and how light (photons) can
excite electrons.
1922: Einstein received Nobel Prize for describing photoelectric effect.
1954: Bell Labs developed the “Bell Solar Battery”.
The “Bell Solar Battery” is what is technically called a solar module
today.
Often people incorrectly call a solar module a solar panel.
1958: First solar powered satellite sent into space by US Navy. The Vanguard 1
is currently the oldest man made object in space.
1999: World total installed PV capacity 1 GW
1 Gigawatt = 1000 MW (megawatts)
1 MW = 1000 kW (kilowatts)
1 kW = 1000 W (watts)
2012: World total installed PV capacity 100 GW, 31 GW of which was installed
in 2012.