How are solar panels developed and distributed in America?

Question

I have to get a lot of information on how solar panels are developed and distributed in America because I have to do two pages on this. Please help me get information in this I really need it!! Thankss...

Answer 1

The first link below is one of the best sites for recent news about solar panels. You should be able to find stories about solar panels under development today.

A little bit of the history:

Solar panels have been around for about 50 years now. They were first used to power spacecraft. Solar power for domestic use started to develop rapidly in the 1970's during the first oil crisis, but as energy prices fell in the 1980's solar development slowed. Most of the large solar panel makers were purchased by large oil companies who seemed not to be too interested in solar. In the late 1990's as concerns about both Peak Oil and Global Warming grew there was renewed interest in solar power and a number of new companies were started to develop new kinds of solar panels. Many of these new companies have grown larger than the older solar companies still owned by big oil companies.

Over the last 7 years or so growth in the solar market has been explosive with a compound growth rate of almost 40% per year. In 2005 the solar industry for the first time started to consume more silicon than all other electronic industries combined resulting in a world wide silicon shortage that is still with use. New silicon refineries are coming on line and the shortage is expected to diminish by 2008 or 2009.

Check out the two links below. They will help you a lot.