Solar Energy is predicted to play an enormous role in the future of our planet. From its industrial applications to domestic benefits, the potential is limitless. That said, solar technology may not be as new as you think. In fact, we’ve already been harnessing energy from the sun for thousands of years.
Solar Energy Technology Today
Today, following a period of intense innovation, solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) panels adorn more than one million homes in the UK, with an impressive 183,000 solar panel systems installed on properties in 2023 alone.
Data also tells us that PV energy generation increased by 26% in 2022, creating almost 1,300 TWh of energy. Additional support for solar energy policies from global powerhouses like the United States and China now means that the global tracking status of solar PV capabilities is now deemed to be ‘on track’ with regard to its contribution to the ‘Net Zero Emissions by 2050’ strategy.
Given the speed at which solar technology has been adopted in recent years, you might be surprised to learn that up until the last few decades progress with solar technology was relatively slow.
So, how exactly have humans used solar energy throughout the centuries, when was solar power invented, and what can we expect from the solar technologies of the future? Let’s take a brief look through the history of this important technology to find out more.
Solar Energy in Antiquity
Communities in China and Greece once designed entire cities with the principles of optimal ventilation and the sun in mind, which ensured that buildings were positioned in ways that would be heated in the winter and stay cool throughout the hot summer months.
Ancient Romans also harnessed energy from the sun in their famous baths, which were constructed to allow hot air to circulate beneath the floors and with hollow walls to establish a steamy environment. Similarly, the Ancient Egyptians used the sun to evaporate water, which provided a cooling effect in the home.
Engineers and architects still use many ancient principles today, particularly when designing future-proofed buildings that will withstand the potential challenges climate change will continue to bring.
The World’s First Solar Collector Cell
Horace Bénédicte de Saussure was a geologist, naturalist and physicist. In 1767, he developed an insulated box featuring between three and five glass layers and a small opening. The glass magnified heat from the sun, increasing the temperature inside the box to 108 degrees Celsius, which was hot enough to cook food and boil water.
He called his invention the helio thermometer and it formed the basis of the development of solar collectors, which were used to generate electricity, supply hot water and heat homes in the 1900s.
The Discovery of the Photovoltaic Effect
In 1839, nineteen-year-old Edmund Becquerel was conducting research when he discovered that sunlight could boost the generation of electricity. Inspired by the work of Becquerel, August Mouchot started submitting solar-powered engine patents during the 1860s, which in turn became the inspiration for scientists across Europe and the Americas.
Using selenium wafers, Charles Fritts designed the world’s first solar cells in 1883 and despite having just a 1% efficiency rate, it demonstrated that solid materials, with zero moving parts, were able to use sunlight to create electricity.
The Development of Silicon Solar Cells
During experimentation with samples of silicon, Russell Shoemaker Ohl found that this material allowed a current to flow through when it was exposed to the light. Albeit inadvertently, Shoemaker Ohl created a p-n junction, which now forms the groundwork for solar cells.
The Creation of Modern Solar Panels
Researchers at Bell Labs developed a practical solar cell in 1954. This cell utilised silicon wafers and had an efficiency rating of 6%, which was enough to power a radio transmitter and a toy Ferris wheel.
In the years after these creations, solar technology started to be integrated into satellites, which used the generated energy to power a range of functions including radios.
Today’s Solar Power Capabilities
In 1985, researchers at the University of New South Wales developed silicon cells with a 20% efficiency rate, which was surpassed in 1999 by researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory who created cells with a 33% efficiency rate.
But keen to reclaim their record-breaking status, the University of New South Wales researchers retook their crown when they created a solar cell with a 34.5% efficiency rating in 2016.
The Future of Solar
Solar technology has an impressively long history, but its future is set to be even longer as we continue to introduce increasingly efficient and powerful systems into our homes and across industries.
If you’re keen to learn more about which solar systems can be integrated into your home to save money on energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, get in touch with a member of our experienced installation.
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