Page 41 - ISES SWC50

1955
• Western Electric commenced selling commercial licenses for silicon photovoltaic (PV) technologies.
• National Fabricated Products in California purchases a license and commences to produce solar modules
for the commercial market.

1956
• William Cherry, from the U.S. Signal Corps Laboratories, approached Radio Corporation of America (RCA)
Labs’ Paul Rappaport and Joseph Loferski about developing photovoltaic cells for proposed orbiting Earth
satellites.
• General James O’Connell Commander of US Army Signal Corps arranged for Corps lead researcher Dr
Hans Zieglar to visit Bell laboratories. Zieglar promoted the use of the cells on, what was a secret then, the
development of a communication satellite.
• Hoffman Electronics Semiconductor Division creates a 2% efficient commercial solar cell with 14 mW
peak power for $25/cell or $1,785/watt.
• Spectrolab is founded initially working on optical devices but later supplying solar cells for space through
its Heliotek division.

1957
• AT&T assignors (Gerald L. Pearson, Daryl M. Chapin and Calvin S. Fuller) received patent US2780765,
“Solar Energy Converting Apparatus.” It is referred to as the “solar battery”.
• Hoffman Electronics achieved 8% efficient photovoltaic cells.
• Mohamed M. Atalla developed the process of silicon surface passivation by thermal oxidation at Bell
Laboratories. The surface passivation process has since been critical to solar cell efficiency.
• The first telephone repeater powered by solar cells was built in Americus, Georgia.

1958
• T. Mandelkorn, U.S. Signal Corps Laboratories, fabricated a n-on-p silicon photovoltaic cells (critically
important for space cells; more resistant to radiation).
• Hoffman Electronics achieved 9% efficient photovoltaic cells.
• On 17 March the Vanguard I space satellite was launched and used a small 0.1W, 100 cm² solar module
th
to power its radios. The system ran continuously for 8 years.
• Later in the year, Explorer III, Vanguard II, and Sputnik-3 launched with PV-powered systems on board.

1959
• Hoffman Electronics achieved 10% efficient, commercially available photovoltaic cells and introduces the
use of a grid contact, reducing the cell’s resistance.
• On August 7, the Explorer VI satellite was launched with a photovoltaic array of 9600 cells (1 cm x 2 cm
each).
• On October 13, the Explorer VII satellite was launched.
• Sharp’s research team developed a working solar cell.

5.3 Solar Thermal 1950-1959
1950s
• Development of selective surface coatings by Beasley Industries in conjunction with CSIRO produced
better performing collectors for cooler climates.

1953
• Solar energy was identified as a technology of strategic significance to Australia and by 1954 a prototype
solar water heater had been built and tested and a report on its design and construction published. An
account of this work was presented by Roger Morse which was one of the first to set out the principles on
which the design of solar water heaters could be based. It drew on what had previously been published,
particularly Hoyt C Hottel’s work on flat plate collectors at Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT) .
• Thermosiphon solar water heaters developed and sold by SW Hart & Co in Perth Western Australia under
the brand name Solahart. The brand is now owned by Rheem Australia and has been exported to over 70
Countries. In the mid-1970’s Solahart invested substantial capital in the plant associated with producing
a mild steel, vitreous enamel lined tank for its solar water heater. The new product offered durability and
material cost advantages over conventional copper, bronze, and stainless steel tank systems available at
the time. It also incorporated an antifreeze heat transfer fluid to avoid frosting problems.

ISES SWC50 - The Century of Solar-Stories and Visions | 23