Solar panels’ popularity in the United States has risen dramatically in recent decades. Solar energy has grown from its small start in the middle of the 20th century to a major player in the energy market thanks to better technology, government backing, and more people becoming aware of environmental problems. This blog will talk about the history of solar panels, when did solar panels become popular, and the current state of solar energy in the U.S.
The Early Years of Solar Power
Solar energy has been used for hundreds of years, but the first solar panels were made in the 1800s. The photovoltaic effect was found by the French scientist Edmond Becquerel in 1839. This is how solar panels work. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that Bell Labs in the US made the first photovoltaic (PV) cells that could be used. Early cells like these were pricey and mostly used in space uses, which made them less popular.
The 1970s Energy Crisis: A Turning Point
In the United States, solar energy took a big turn in the 1970s. The 1973 and 1979 oil shocks made people more aware of how dependent we are on energy, and they also pushed the government to invest in other energy sources. The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and other federal laws supported the growth of green energy sources like solar. During this time, there was more study and development, which made solar cells more efficient and lowered their prices.
When Did Solar Panels Become Popular?
The 1990s: A Slow but Steady Growth
By the 1990s, solar technology had come a long way, but people were still taking it slow. With the help of net metering rules, people could sell their extra energy back to the grid, which made installing solar panels a better financial choice. However, high start-up costs and low customer knowledge continued to make growth slow.
The 2000s: A Surge in Adoption
In the early 2000s, a lot of solar panels were put up because prices were going down and some states offered benefits. When the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was created in 2006, it gave homes a big financial boost by letting them remove some of the costs of installing solar panels from their federal taxes. Along with state refunds and green portfolio rules, this incentive caused solar power to grow very quickly across the country.
The 2010s: Mainstream Acceptance
Many homes in the U.S. had solar cells on their roofs by the 2010s. Prices for solar systems, including portable solar panels, dropped by more than 70% between 2010 and 2020, which is a huge drop. It was said that this drop was caused by better technology, economies of scale, and more competition among solar makers. Solar energy also grew because of efforts to make people more aware of it and growing worry about climate change.
Key Factors Driving Solar Popularity
Technological Advancements
Solar panels have become very common thanks in large part to new ideas. Energy exchange rates have gotten better as more efficient solar cells, like monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels, have been made. Also, improvements in energy storage technologies like lithium-ion batteries have made it easier for people to store extra energy for later use, which makes solar systems even more appealing.
Policy Support and Incentives
Policies made by the government have been very helpful in getting people to use solar energy. The government ITC, which gives 30% tax credits for installing solar panels, has made things a lot easier for residents financially. There are also many state-level benefits, such as refunds, tax credits, and loans, that make solar more available to more people.
Environmental Awareness
Many homes are looking at solar energy as a long-term option to fossil fuels because they care more about the environment. More people want to use green energy sources because they are worried about climate change and want to be independent of foreign energy sources. As more people learn about how can help them, the number of people using solar panels keeps going up.
Current State of Solar Energy in the USA
A Booming Industry
Solar energy has grown into a major force in the U.S. energy scene since 2023. This was a big step forward for green energy in the U.S., marking a significant big thing in Solar Power. The country has more than 210 gigawatts of solar power installed, which is enough to power about 36 million homes. In 2023, 55% of all the new electricity capability added to the grid came from solar power.
Residential Solar Adoption
The private solar business has grown a lot, and more and more people are choosing to put solar panels. A recent poll found that only 8% of U.S. homes have put solar panels, but 39% have seriously thought about doing so. This trend is especially strong in states like California, Arizona, and Texas, which have laws that encourage solar energy output and lots of sunlight.
Challenges Ahead
Even though the solar business has grown quickly, it meets problems like supply chain problems and changing costs. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, solar parts are harder to find, which has caused costs to go up. The industry is likely to keep going up, though, as local manufacturing capacity grows and supply lines become more stable.
The Future of Solar Energy
- The solar business is expected to keep growing in the years to come. The U.S. Energy Information Administration thinks that solar power will make up a big part of new power plants built in the next few years. More homes and businesses are likely to use solar energy options as technology keeps getting better and costs go down.
- Community solar projects: Community solar projects are becoming a good choice for people who can’t put solar panels in their own homes. These programs let many people share the benefits of a single solar grid. This makes solar energy more available to more people, like renters and low-income families.
Conclusion
Solar panels have come a long way from being a niche technology to a common source of energy in the US. Solar energy will be very important to the country’s energy future because technology is always getting better, laws are becoming more helpful, and people are becoming more aware of environmental problems. Solar panels will likely continue to become more common as we move toward a more sustainable and clean energy future. They will help light the way to a better tomorrow.