Solar electricity has been around forever at least so long as we humans can tell. Solar power has been used for centuries. It dries your hair when you run out of time to employ a power blow dryer. It may fry an egg on the path on a hot summer day. It also liquefies your ice cream on the same day.
But now, solar energy has a completely new meaning, as does solar energy system. How and why has this happened? The history of solar energy is fascinating.
Coal Started This Story
When coal was being used pretty much exclusively in the Business Revolution, it was actually the norm. Nobody was worried about finding another source of fuel, though they were beginning to use biomass and traditional fuels, and wood had been used for a while. The utilization of solar power was first considered in the 1860s as scientists thought that coal was becoming less available. But in the early twentieth century, coal and petrol were again typically available, and were not too expensive.
During the oil embargo (1973) and the energy crisis (1979), the government's energy policies worldwide were under scrutiny. There was renewed interest in developing solar technologies. Government developed special programs with incentives, like the Sunshine Program in Japan. The United States had the Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Program. Governments in many countries also developed research facilities (United States, Japan, and Germany were notable.)
To be fair, in the United States there had already been commercial solar water heaters since the 1890s. There were increasing number of users of these systems, until there were more reliable and cheaper fuels. Solar water heating was of interest during the oil crisis that happened in the 1970s but when the price of petroleum went down, so did interest in solar water heaters.
Since the 1990s, there was increased interest in sun-powered heating, and now it's the most well-liked solar technology. There are more used of solar power, however.
For office buildings, solar electricity can supply day lighting systems and reduced need for aircon.
For farming, solar power can run the pumps, wine presses, and even the chick brooders.
For cooking, solar energy is used for cooking, drying, and pasteurization. These can be of various forms, from reflector ovens (remember using those while camping?), panel cookers, which use solar panels to collect heat, and box cookers. These can reach temperatures sufficient to cook pretty much anything.
But now, solar energy has a completely new meaning, as does solar energy system. How and why has this happened? The history of solar energy is fascinating.
Coal Started This Story
When coal was being used pretty much exclusively in the Business Revolution, it was actually the norm. Nobody was worried about finding another source of fuel, though they were beginning to use biomass and traditional fuels, and wood had been used for a while. The utilization of solar power was first considered in the 1860s as scientists thought that coal was becoming less available. But in the early twentieth century, coal and petrol were again typically available, and were not too expensive.
During the oil embargo (1973) and the energy crisis (1979), the government's energy policies worldwide were under scrutiny. There was renewed interest in developing solar technologies. Government developed special programs with incentives, like the Sunshine Program in Japan. The United States had the Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Program. Governments in many countries also developed research facilities (United States, Japan, and Germany were notable.)
To be fair, in the United States there had already been commercial solar water heaters since the 1890s. There were increasing number of users of these systems, until there were more reliable and cheaper fuels. Solar water heating was of interest during the oil crisis that happened in the 1970s but when the price of petroleum went down, so did interest in solar water heaters.
Since the 1990s, there was increased interest in sun-powered heating, and now it's the most well-liked solar technology. There are more used of solar power, however.
For office buildings, solar electricity can supply day lighting systems and reduced need for aircon.
For farming, solar power can run the pumps, wine presses, and even the chick brooders.
For cooking, solar energy is used for cooking, drying, and pasteurization. These can be of various forms, from reflector ovens (remember using those while camping?), panel cookers, which use solar panels to collect heat, and box cookers. These can reach temperatures sufficient to cook pretty much anything.
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