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Edmond Becquerel first observes the photovoltaoc effect via an electrode in a conductive solution exposed to light. http://energyinformative.org/the-history-of-solar-energy-timeline/
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Charles Fritts creates the first solar cell with selenium layer on a thin layer of gold. This device had an output of about 1% efficiency. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:26XznTXYACoJ:inventors.about.com/od/sstartinventions/a/solar_cell.htm+history+of+solar+cell&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
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Solar water-heating systems started being used for houses and apartment buildings in California and Florida. http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/about/gosolar/california.php
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Bell Labs produces the first prectical silicon solar cell which had around a 6% efficiency. The cells made by this company were used in and by some industries. http://org.ntnu.no/solarcells/pages/history.php
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Hoffman Electronics creates 9% efficient solar cells. Vanguard I, the first solar powered satellite, was launched with a 0.1W, 100 cm² solar panel. http://org.ntnu.no/solarcells/pages/history.php
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Hoffman Electronics creates 14% efficient solar cell, a drastic leap in solar cell technology, it now seems possible for solar cells to eventually power our world. http://exploringgreentechnology.com/solar-energy/history-of-solar-energy/
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J. Baldwin, at Integrated Living Systems, co-develops the world's first building powered by solar and wind power exclusively. Eventually it would be possible to make them strictly solar powered. https://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/solar_timeline.pdf
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Reflective Solar Concentrators started being used on solar cells to increase energy. http://org.ntnu.no/solarcells/pages/history.php
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NREL develops a GaInP/GaAs two-terminal concentrator cell which becomes the first solar cell to exceed 30% conversion efficiency. http://exploringgreentechnology.com/solar-energy/history-of-solar-energy/
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Scientists found a way to create solar cells out of organic matter that retain decent efficiency, are thin, flexible, and semi transparent. http://www.solar-constructions.com/wordpress/transparent-solar-panels/
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Scientists at Michigan State University create a solar cell that resembles typical glass. They are completely transparent and revolutionary. These can replace windows or phone screens or anything that might need power and the cell wont obstruct the view at all. http://www.techtimes.com/articles/13615/20140820/go-solar-with-a-view-using-newly-developed-transparent-cells.htm
