1838.
Edmond Becquerel observed and published findings about the nature of materials to turn light into energy. |
1858-1888.
John Ericsson, an American immigrant from Sweden wrote these powerful words: "a couple of thousand years dropped in the ocean of time will completely exhaust the coal fields of Europe". |
1860-1881.
Auguste Mouchout was the first man to patent a design for a motor running on solar energy. Later he used a device to turn the power from the sun into steam then created the first steam engine. |
1873
Willoughby Smith, a Brit, experimented with the use of selenium solar cells after discovering it's sensitivity to light while testing material for underwater telegraph cables. |
1876-1878.
William Adams, wrote the first book about solar energy called:A Substitute for Fuel in Tropical Countries. His student tested the use of mirrors, if could power steam engines. |
1883.
Charles Fritz turned the sun's rays into electricity. This was a mile stone for so far. |
1885-1889.
Charles installed the first solar energy system for heating household water on top of his very own roof. |
1892-1905.
Aubrey Eneas formed the first solar energy company- the Solar Motor Co. they sold the first solar energy system to Dr. A.J. Chandler of Mesa. |
1904.
Henry Willies recognized the need to store generated power and built two huge plants in California. |
1906-1914.
Frank Shaman's company, Sun Power co.Built the most cost-effective Solar Energy system covering 10,000 square feet plus. |
1954.
Calvin fuller, Gerald Pearson, and Daryl Chaplin of bell labs accidentally discovered the use of silicon as a semi-conductor. |
1956.
The first commercial solar cell was made available to the public at a very expensive price of $300 per watt. |
1950's-1960's.
Space programs used Solar energy for their rockets. |
1970.
The energy crisis! (OPEC oil embargo) The bit of Solar Energy were all familiar with it became important to find an alternative form of Energy. |
1980-1991.
A Los Angeles based compound called Luz co. projected 95% of the worlds Solar Energy. |
TODAY.
Solar cells power things for cars to household appliances. Solar systems are used on homes, businesses holiday cottages, even villages in Africa. |
Info from: http://www.facts-about-solar-energy.com
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