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Edmond Becquerel: The Man Behind Solar Panels
Today, solar panels are increasingly affordable both in the Philippines and globally, largely due to the growing adoption of solar energy. This shift towards renewable energy owes much to the pioneering work of Edmond Becquerel, a visionary French physicist whose contributions laid the foundational understanding of solar energy.
In 1839, Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect, the principle that underpins the operation of solar cells. This discovery was a landmark in the field of solar technology, which, contrary to popular belief, is not a recent innovation. The roots of solar power technology can be traced back to the mid-1800s during the Industrial Revolution, a time when solar energy plants were utilized to heat water, thus generating steam to power machinery.
Biography
Edmond Becquerel was born in Paris and followed in the footsteps of his father at the Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle. His academic career was distinguished; in 1849, he became a professor at the Agronomic Institute in Versailles. By 1853, he held the position of Chairman of Physics at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers. His son, Antoine Henri Becquerel, would later earn the Nobel Prize for Physics for his groundbreaking work on radioactivity.
Beyond photovoltaics, Becquerel was deeply invested in the study of light. He explored the photochemical effects and spectroscopic characteristics of both solar and electric light. Among his inventions was the phosphoroscope, an apparatus designed to measure the interval between light exposure and the observation of its effects. Becquerel also conducted significant research into the diamagnetic and paramagnetic properties of substances.
The Discovery
The pivotal moment in Becquerel’s career came at the young age of 19, when he created the world’s first photovoltaic cell in his father’s laboratory. His experiment involved placing silver chloride in an acidic solution and illuminating it while connected to platinum electrodes, resulting in the generation of voltage and current. Initially dubbed the “Becquerel effect,” this discovery set the stage for future advancements in solar technology.
Despite his groundbreaking work, photovoltaic power remained inefficient for many years. It wasn’t until a century later that Russell Ohl, an American engineer, patented the first modern solar cell following the invention of the transistor. Becquerel’s discovery has had a lasting impact, steering humanity away from reliance on fossil fuels and toward harnessing solar energy, one of the most abundant and enduring energy sources available.
The sun, apart from its life-sustaining properties such as promoting plant growth and offering health benefits, is now recognized as a formidable energy source, with the potential to power human civilization indefinitely.