Solar energy history is known to have started many years ago and the technology is advancing very fast. Many people in the past used solar energy to do many different things that were of an impact in their daily life. Solar energy history becomes fascinating when looked at in the point of who discovered solar energy.
Here is the outline on the solar energy history
1838
This is the year that Edmund Becquerel observed and found out that there were some materials that could turn light into energy. People got them interesting but nothing was done about it that time until some later years that followed.
1860 – 1881
These are the years that Sir Auguste Mouchoutt became the first man to come out with a design for a motor running on solar energy. Auguste managed to design a solar energy device that could turn it into a mechanical steam power hence becoming the first to operate steam engine. The steam engine was later connected to a refrigerator to give some power that could turn water into ice, therefore making him a great winner to be awarded a medal.
Having received some funding from the French government for this, Mouchout’s work went to a dying stage when the French and England negotiated on a cheaper deal for the supply of coal and the improved transportation system for it , hence making the funding not any more.
1876 – 1878
These are the years when William Adams wrote the first book on the solar energy referred to as a substitute for fuel in tropical countries. This was an experiment carried by him and his student Richard Day by a use of mirrors that was able to power a 2.5 horse power steam engine. This was a much bigger than that the one that mouchout had made of 0.5.this sis a design that is still in use up to date and it is called the power Tower concept.
1883
In this year Charles Fritz managed to turn the sun’s rays into electricity. This was one of the biggest milestones for the solar energy history. The solar cell have conversion rate 1-2%. This was really a big boost to the electricity sector.
1885 – 1889
Charles Teller is the first man who installed a solar energy system for none concentrating and non reflecting solar motor hence making him bear the name, the father of refrigeration. He also managed to install the first ever solar energy system for heating house hold water at the top side of his own roof. Unfortunately, he never went very far with the solar energy experiments as he had other dreams to pursue in the refrigeration interests.
In the 20th century, the solar energy continued to be improved but at that stage it came in a really full force as almost everyone is going for the solar energy which is so reliable and very cheap to be used by anyone who needs electricity, heating water and even cooking not forgetting refrigeration as well.
1892 – 1905
This is the year when the first solar company was formed and there was many more that followed later. The guy by the name Aubrey Eneas managed to form it. The first solar made in the company was sold to the guy by the name Dr. A.J Chandler of mesa,Ariz for an amount of $2160.after sometime about a week, the solar panel was destroyed by wind and the second panel that was sold to a guy by the name John may also followed suit after serving him for a month and some weeks.tis led to the company’s down fall with a very short time of service.
1906 – 1914
This is the year that the sun power company owned by Frank Shuman built the largest and the most cost effective solar energy system covering about 10,000 square feet and many more. With more efforts to make everything workout with ease, he decided to collaborate with E.P.Haines where they then built an irrigation firm after Cairo that served for quite a while until it was later destroyed during the great war.
1956
After the first solar cell was made and tested to do its good work, this is the year that it was brought into the market at an amount of $300 per watt. This was a big improvement as it could now be used in the radios and the toys as well.
1980 – 1991
Luz Company based in Los Angeles, produced 95% of the worlds solar emitted electricity. Later on some investors had to withdraw from project after the price of non renewable fossil fuels declined and the state together with the federal support became unlikely. The chairman of the managing board put a very rewarding a very promising statement that the failure to utilize the solar energy never came as a result of the government authoritarian bodies to distinguish and value the benefits of the solar thermal energy generating plant but not due to technological or even business judgment failures.
Today, there is a really rewarding benefit in the solar energy productions and people have gone for this to make sure that all of the needed power is given out. All f the governments in the world are offering assistance in running this kind of projects. Solar energy is in use and almost all of the homes, businesses, holiday cottages are going for this option. In the near future, almost every homestead will be using this as the only source of energy. Together with the first growth in technology, many things will be powered by the solar energy in the near future.
Present solar panels: