The History of Solar Energy

The history of solar energy in more modern times starts in 1839 when French physicist Edmond Becquerel first discovered solar photovoltaic activity.

It was another Frenchman, Auguste Mouchout, who invented the first motor to be powered by solar energy way back in the 1860's.

In 1883, Charles Fritz turned the sun's rays into electricity!

Interest slowed down in the early part of the 20th century, though interest in solar energy never completely disappeared.

In fact, it was around this time that Albert Einstein was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in physics for his research on the photoelectric effect.

In 1953, in the US, Bell Laboratories scientists Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller developed the first silicon solar cell capable of generating a measurable electric current.

The 1970s brought hope that through massive investment in initiatives and research, solar pv costs would drop dramatically, allowing it to become competitive with fossil fuels.

However, it hasn't been until recently and due to the forward thinking governments of Germany and Japan that the solar industry has begun to take off.

With attractive rebates for homeowners, the governments of these countries have made solar power easily accessible to the regular homeowner. Find out how you can save yourself tonnes of energy and money by clicking here.

Useful resources

The solar photovoltaic energy market is currently growing at a whopping 30 percent per year.

Meanwhile, solar thermal water heating is an increasingly cost-effective means of lowering gas and electricity demand.

As you’ve seen, technologies have changed and improved for decades. Still, the basics of solar thermal and photovoltaics have remained the same.

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