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George Cove, a forgotten solar power pioneer, may have built a highly efficient photovoltaic panel 40 years before Bell Labs engineers invented silicon cells. If proven to work, his design could lead to less complex and more sustainable solar panels. Above: George Cove stands next to his third solar array. Source: "Generating electricity by the sun s rays", Popular Electricity, Volume 2, nr. 12, April 1910, pp.793. More efficient, less sustainable Ever since Bell Labs presented the first practical solar PV panel in the 1950s, technological development has focused on reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of solar cells. According to these standards, researchers have made a lot of progress. The efficiency of solar panels increased from less than 5% in.