Solar power today is based on the same premise as solar power over the many centuries it has been in use. That’s right, I said centuries. Solar power has been around for a long time in various forms and has been around since the earth was an infant! Time to take a look at solar power from its humble beginnings to today and maybe a look at tomorrow.
The Birth Of Solar Power
Solar power had its beginnings when people realized that they could spark a fire by focusing the sun’s rays with glass of mirrors.
Populations used to make their homes on the side of cliffs that were facing south so they could tap the heat from the sunrays for warmth and had the added advantage of heating the rock for use after sunset. This is the birth of what is now referred to as passive solar power.
From Greenhouses to Photovoltaics
In the 1700s, a scientist is Switzerland by the name of Horace de Saussure was investigating what would happen when the sun was concentrated onto glass and developed what was referred to at the time as a “hot box”, ultimately being utilized as a greenhouse.
In the 1800s, A Frenchman named Edmund Becquerel found what eventually was called the “photovoltaic effect”; there was a reaction when the rays of the sun were concentrated on to particular materials that would generate a tiny electrical charge.
Used in later years by the Bell Laboratories in the 1950s to produce the initial solar cell that would create sufficient energy to power a small electrical device. Solar arrays were utilized to energize the early satellites in the later fifties and even today, solar power is a primary feature in the current space program.
Using Solar Power Today
Solar power in today’s modern world has evolved in remarkable ways with technological progress made in how it can be applied and where. Solar – or photovoltaic panels – are so capable they are able to power an entire home or business with very little maintenance or disadvantages. They are becoming less expensive all the time and that downward price tendency is expected to continue for some time.
Novel thin filmed technology is making its arrival and the production expenditure is less than one dollar. This is good news since when an increase in the effectiveness of solar meets the cost and reverses itself, solar will finally be an affordable option for power that many more folks will be able to pay for.
Other forms of solar power have progressed as well. Solar thermal technology provides heat and hot water to residences and industry worldwide. It is a popular heating alternative for many pool owners heating them throughout the year and lower costs substantially. Solar power is widely used in many devices and scenarios presently, what began with calculators in the early years have grown to include everything from electric shavers to airplanes. You can compress garbage in a solar energy trash compactor and pay for your parking via a solar power ticket distributor. New ideas emerge all the time.
What Is In Store For The Future Of Solar?
The solar market is still virtually untapped and so much remains to be discovered. Someday solar powered airplanes will be taking off from airports around the globe. Solar cells and panels will continue to shrink and become more capable, powering everything that is currently powered via electricity at some future time.
Solar energy usage has advanced dramatically since the ancient Greeks began using it to light their cooking and heating fires. What is so exciting about solar power is we have only just begun to tap its potential. Innovative minds will continue to optimize the technology and develop exciting uses well into the future using solar power.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.