Solar Innovation Timeline

DOE announces three recipients for up to $112.5 million in funding to support the U.S. development of advanced manufacturing processes for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules under SunShot Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships.

Credit: U.S. Department of Energy

DOE announces details of its SunShot Initiative, with the goal of reducing total costs of PV systems by 75% at decade's end, making them competitive with other energy sources.

California increases its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) target to 33% by 2020.

Credit: U.S. Department of Energy

Sandia National Laboratories researchers at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility begin developing next-generation solar collection dishes.

Credit: Sandia National Laboratories, Randy Montoya

First Solar begins production of thin-film PV panels in Perrysburg, Ohio, estimating it can produce enough annually to generate 100 megawatts, a hugh increase over the typical manufacturing capacity.

Credit: First Solar

President Clinton announces the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, designed to slow greenhouse gas emissions and boost U.S. solar industry. PDF, 3.8MB

Credit: Dennis Schroeder, NREL

The National Center for Photovoltaics is established to better integrate research efforts at Sandia and NREL.

Credit: Scott Bryant Photography

The first solar dish generator to use a free-piston Stirling engine is hooked up to the grid.

Credit: NREL

NREL researchers develop a gallium indium phosphide/gallium arsenide solar cell that is more than 30% efficient.

Credit: David Parsons

Pacific Gas and Electric installs a 500-kilowatt PV system to boost reliability at a substation, gaining measurable benefits.

Credit: Terry O'Rourke

DOE designates the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). PDF, 1.6MB

Credit: NREL

The University of Michigan's first solar car, the Sunrunner, wins the first American Solar Challenge.

Credit: University of Michigan

The world's largest solar thermal electric facility is commissioned in Kramer Junction, CA, using mirrors to heat fluid and produce steam to generate electricity.

Credit: United Solar Systems Corp.

ARCO Solar releases the world's first commercial thin-film solar module.

Credit: United Solar Systems Corp.

Stanford University creates a solar cell that is 25% efficient using 200X concentration.

Credit: Standford University

Boeing and SERI are honored with an R&D 100 Award for a thin-film solar cell.

Credit: United Solar Ovonic

The University of Delaware's Institute of Energy Conversion develops the first thin-film cell to exceed 10% efficiency using a multidisciplinary approach.

Credit: NREL

ARCO Solar is the first company to produce more than 1 megawatt of PV modules in a year.

Credit: Sandia National Laboratories

California passed its Solar Rights Act of 1978, providing that homeowner associations cannot thwart those installing solar energy systems.

Credit: State of California Public Utilities Commission

DOE boosts PV research on multiple tracks, with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Sandia, and SERI.

Credit: Sandia National Laboratories

SERI, later the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is established in Colorado.

Credit: Ersol, 2007

An irrigation project in Mead, Nebraska, uses some 100,000 single-crystal silicon solar cells to power irrigation pumps.

Credit: NREL, Dennis Schroeder

After the upheavals caused by the oil crisis, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is formed. PDF, 2MB

Credit: U.S. Department of Energy

From humble beginnings in the late 1950s, PV solar cells become the dominant power source for about 1,000 U.S. and Russian spacecraft.

Credit: Entech, Inc.

The University of Delaware's Institute of Energy Conversion is founded, becoming the first lab dedicated to solar R&D.

Credit: University of Delaware

Western Electric researchers are granted patent for anti reflective coating for solar cells.

Credit: NREL

Bell Telephone Laboratories launch Telstar, the first telecommunications satellite with solar cells that generate 14 watts.

Credit: U.S. Department of Energy

Hoffman Electronics creates a 10%-efficiency PV cell that is available commercially.

Credit: U.S. Department of Energy

Bell Laboratories researchers overcome technical difficulties to create 6%-efficiency PV cell that can be used for everyday equipment.

Credit: Bell Labs