Izwi rekuti photovoltaics (PV) rakatanga kutaurwa makore akapoteredza 1890, uye rinobva pamazwi echiGiriki anoti: mufananidzo, âphos,â zvinoreva chiedza,
Photovoltaics ndiko kushandurwa kwakananga kwechiedza kuita magetsi padanho reatomu. Zvimwe zvinhu zvinoratidzira chivakwa chinonzi photoelectric effect chinoita kuti vatore mafotoni echiedza uye vabudise maerekitironi.