The History Of Solar Energy

Many of us assume that the nation s first serious push to develop renewable fuels was spawned while angry americans waited in gas lines during the energy crisis of the 1970s.

The history of solar energy.

Held hostage by the. His primary area of research is the history of. The further development of his invention gave rise to today s instruments for measuring solar radiation. Later in 3rd century b c the greeks and romans were known to harness solar power with mirrors to light torches for religious ceremonies.

Humans first learn to make fire through the concentration of sunlight using a magnifying glass 1. When history tells us that humans used sunlight to light fires with magnifying glass materials. Here you can learn more about the milestones in the. As of 2012 the history s largest solar energy plant is the golmud solar park in china with an installed capacity of 200 megawatts.

This is arguably surpassed by india s gujarat solar park a collection of solar farms scattered around the gujarat region boasting a combined installed capacity of 605 megawatts. In this year the swiss scientist horace bénédict de saussure invented an instrument with which solar radiation could be measured. Had the findings of the early solar. A legend recounts how the greek inventor archimedes used a heat ray to set enemy ships on fire by reflecting and redirecting the sun s light with a series of mirrors 2.

Solar cells at that stage were still suitable for use in space and in 1958 the vanguard 1 spacecraft used solar as a backup energy source. Today we have everything from solar powered buildings to solar powered vehicles. Its history spans from the 7th century b c. We started out concentrating the sun s heat with glass and mirrors to light fires.

The history of solar energy. The history of solar power is not as recent as some may think as the technology has existed since the 19th century and has received substantial government support since at least the 1970s. Their work reflects a disjointed solar energy policy. In theory solar energy was used by humans as early as 7th century b c.

The power of the sun is what makes life on earth possible. Efforts to harness solar energy in concentrated form have long been a human pursuit. Solar technology isn t new. Solar thermal energy has a place in the history of solar energy from the year 1767.

1767 the first solar oven was invented by swiss scientist horace.