Ua ʻōlelo mua ʻia ka huaʻōlelo photovoltaics (PV) ma kahi o ka makahiki 1890, a mai nā huaʻōlelo Helene: photo, âphos,â ʻo ia hoʻi ka mālamalama,
ʻO Photovoltaics ka hoʻololi pololei ʻana o ka mālamalama i ka uila ma ka pae atomika. Hōʻike kekahi mau mea i kahi waiwai i kapa ʻia ʻo ka hopena photoelectric e hoʻoiho iā lākou i nā kiʻi o ka māmā a hoʻokuʻu i nā electrons.