Mawu akuti photovoltaics (PV) adatchulidwa koyamba cha m'ma 1890, ndipo amachokera ku mawu achi Greek: chithunzi, âphos,â kutanthauza kuwala,
Photovoltaics ndi kutembenuka kwachindunji kwa kuwala kukhala magetsi pamlingo wa atomiki. Zida zina zimawonetsa zinthu zomwe zimadziwika kuti photoelectric effect yomwe imawapangitsa kuti atenge ma photon a kuwala ndikutulutsa ma electron.