Solar Cells are an alternate energy source as theorized by Russel Ohl and Charles Fritz.
In China[]
The first known Solar Cell was constructed by Denhua Cong and his students at the University of Wuhan, completed in 1976. The purpose of the venture was advertised as being an adventure in relieving energy stress by helping to provide regions with a cheap source of power, or to give individual homes that ability. Though current designs demanding a large collection surface area to work.
At its heart, the Chinese solar cell project was to develop a energy source fo the Kaanshou satellite as commisioned by the IB. Concerned with battery-life and the need to recharge batteries in orbit brought from the OARP projects, a method of keeping the satellite charged was much in demand.