Solar Energy History Revisited

Sun, the ultimate source of power for mankind has been giving us light and heat since the day it was created. Not only human but plants also use sunlight for their photosynthesis. Solar energy history is often said to be a short history but it is wrong. Since ancient times sun was used to keep the human warm by starting fire using it. They also kept their houses warm by using passive solar energy designs. Houses were built in such a way to keep them cool during the day and warm during the night. The solar energy history is much to be known and we will discuss it further.

Apart from the heating effect of the sun, its energy in recent times is also used to generate electricity. The renowned French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaics in 1839 AD. He found that electricity could be produced in certain material when exposed to light. Later, Albert Einstein in 1905 AD described the photoelectric effect on which photovotaics are based and for which he received the Noble Prize. Their names are written in golden letters in the solar energy history. Solar cells that we use today have been available since 1950. These were made up of silicon and were 6% efficient.

The next chapters of solar energy history saw researchers making huge strides in increasing the efficiency of the solar cells. Nowadays more than 20% efficient solar cells are used commercially. By 20% efficiency, we mean that out of the total sunlight that hits the solar cell, 20% is converted into usable electricity. The photovoltaics are also used in the satellites. This was its biggest application. Solar cells provided electricity to the satellite continuously for six years after which the project was success, as it is a renewable source causing no pollution its demand increased day by day.

Since then, solar power is used for all the satellites. This started a search for alternative source of energy. This included research into renewable sources such as solar power, wind power and geothermal power. This mostly rounds up everything about solar energy history although much is left.

As we enter the new era, new technologies are being developed which are making the solar power more cheap and usable and by each passing day, a new solar energy history is created.

We should put more effort on solar energy and emphasis on it as a primary source of generating power for its eco-friendliness with environment.