History Of Solar Energy

When people talk about solar energy, a lot of people think of certain solar energy sources that are pretty common to them, such as wood, and even dried animal droppings. Aside from these possible sources of solar energy, people also associate the concept of solar energy as one of the possible causes for global warming.

However, there are still a lot of things that people do not know or fully understand about solar energy just yet, like what it is exactly, and how to use it to its utmost potential. In order for you to fully understand more about solar and sustainable energy, and what the future holds for it, you need to learn more about the history of solar energy. This article will give you a chance to delve in deeper into solar energy’s fascinating history.

Historical Role Of Solar Energy

One of the more common and more popular roles that the sun, or solar energy, played during those ancient times is that of a force that is able to sustain life based on its ability to give off renewable energy. This is probably the main reason as to why the people during those times, especially in native South and North America, as well as in other parts of the world, worshipped the Sun.

Ancient Greece built temples devoted to worshipping their sun deities, namely, Helio and Apollo. Also, the Greek’s use of solar energy were not limited to religious purposes, as they even used the solar energy system to incorporate passive solar design in the construction of their houses.

The Romans simply improved the Greek’s design and also incorporated windows into their structures, allowing them to be able to trap more solar heat. This actually played a role in their ability to produce a good growing condition for plants.

Solar Hot Water Heater Prototype

Unknown to a lot of people, but the original prototype for solar hot water heaters is actually a result of do-it-yourself projects of people in their hopes to be able to boil water, and keeping the water hot for a longer period of time. Scientists during the 18th century were able to discover that covering a box with a glass top while heating it would actually get the water to reach boiling temperature. But it wasn’t until someone tried to separate the solar heat collector with the water tank that the first prototype for solar hot water heaters was created.

Discovery Of Solar Energy Cells

Solar energy cells, also known as PV cells, are actually created when three Americans discovered that building transistors with silicon. This was during the 1950’s. PV cells weren’t actually an affordable solar energy source back then, however, due to its practical use in the satellite industry, the solar energy cell industry became sustainable. PV cells serve as the main fuel source for satellites out in space.

Solar Energy Today

Nowadays, in our more technologically advanced times, solar energy has now garnered a lot of renewed interest and focus, especially since solar energy has now become more affordable, and offers more use and application in our modern day needs. Solar energy cells are actually being used in a lot of businesses and homes today, and are even responsible for powering most household appliances, office equipments, and are even used to power cars.

About Solar Energy

Solar energy, heat and radiant light that emanates from the sun have been controlled by humans beginning the ancient periods using a wide range of evolving technologies. Solar radiation, together with secondary solar-powered resources like biomass, wind, wave and hydroelectricity are accountable for majority of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a small fraction of the available solar energy is utilized.

Solar powered electrical generation depends on photovoltaics and heat engines. The uses of solar energy are only limited by human ingenuity. Some of the other uses of solar energy include space cooling and heating via solar architecture, solar hot water, solar cooking, potable water via distillation and disinfection, daylighting and high temperature process heat for industrial functions. Solar panels are one of the most effective and basic ways to gather solar energy.

What is Solar Power?

More and more homes, offices and devices are now relying on solar power as people are becoming more aware of the potential dangers of other unnatural sources of power. It is important that you know more about the idea to determine if it is the best option for you. Solar power can render several benefits for the long term. You can take advantage of the features by choosing the right type and maximizing the effect right in your own home.

About Solar

Solar power is described as the creation of electricity straight from the sun. The generation can be direct with the use of PV or photovoltaics or indirect via CSP or concentrating solar power. CSP is done by using the energy of the sun to focus and boil water which will eventually create solar power. Solar power has the capacity to give more than 1000 times the total world energy consumption back in 2008. However, solar power only comprised 0.02% of the total in 2008.

If solar power will be used double every 2 to 3 years, it can become the dominate source of energy for the century. The biggest solar power plants, are concentrating solar thermal plants, although new multi-megawatt photovoltaic plants have also been created. More and more countries are investing in the bigger photovoltaic power stations, like Germany and Portugal.

More Solar Power

Terrestrial solar power is a predictable and intermittent source of energy, which means even though solar power is not readily available all the time, people can still predict it using a certain degree of accuracy when the energy source will or will not be available. A number of technologies, like the solar thermal concentrators, include an element of thermal storage, such as molten salts.

These come in the form of heat and are considered as store spare solar energy that can readily be made available overnight or at times when solar power is not available to create electricity. Orbital solar power collection also avoids the intermittent use, although satellite launching and beaming of the gathered power are required to get antennas on Earth. The enhanced intensity of the sunlight over the atmosphere also tends to boost the generation efficiency.