The history and evolution of solar energy is a fascinating journey that spans from ancient civilizations to the high-tech solar panels we see today. This journey is not just about technology, but also about human ingenuity and our constant strive to harness nature’s immense power for our use.
The birth of photovoltaics marked a major turning point in the history and evolution of solar energy. It set the stage for a series of technological advancements that would eventually lead to the efficient, cost-effective solar panels we see today. The story of solar cells began much earlier than the mid-20th century.
Solar energy evolved due to various inventions during this phase. In 1893, the first solar cell came into the picture, which needed to be covered with selenium wafers. In 1887, the ultraviolet ray capacity was discovered by Heinrich Hertz which caused a spark occur between two electrodes. Thereafter, the first solar heater came in 1891.
It would be thousands of years before humanity found that it could truly capture and manipulate the sun's energy, but that voyage starts here, in antiquity's first steps. Solar energy was conceptualized in a whole new light after Horace Benedicte de Saussure created the first cell in 1767.
The contemporary solar panel owes its existence to a long string of advancements that begin far back in history — but really came into their own over the last couple hundred years. This is the evolution of the solar panel. Continue reading
The 1970s marked a significant turning point in the History and Evolution of Solar Energy. The decade was characterized by an energy crisis, triggered by the oil embargo of 1973. This event led to a severe shortage of petroleum-based energy sources and skyrocketing fuel prices.