The Start of a Revolution...

The earliest known use of solar energy was found as early as 700 B.C.E, where magnifying glasses were used to start fires. Around 200 B.C.E Greeks were using mirrors to light torches or even set fire to enemy ships. From the 1st to the 4th centuries C.E, the Romans were using solar energy to heat their many bathhouses. Around 1200 C.E, The Anasazi in North America, built southward facing houses in cliff faces to heat their houses during the winter.

 

18th-19th Century

Solar energy started to really develop in the last few centuries. In 1767, Horace deSaussure was credited with building the first solar collector, which was used by Sir John Herschel to cook food during his expedition in the 1830s. Just a few years later in 1839, a French scientist, Edmond Becquerel discovers the photovoltaic effect by experimenting with metalsand a light sensitive solution. To finish of the century, Clarence Kemp patents the firstcommercial water heater.

 

20th-21st Century

In 1908, William Bailey invents a solar thermal collector that is very similar to the same method of solar thermal today. In 1921, Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize for his paper on the photoelectric effect that he wrote a few years earlier. In 1954, the first scientists Daryl Chapman, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson created Photovoltaic cell (PV) at Bell Labs. Two years later, Frank Bridgers designs the first commercial office building the features solar water heating. In 1958, PV systems were used for various space satellites. In 1974, The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) was founded. In 1978, a 3.5 kw PV system was installed on the Papago Indian Reservation; It provided power to 15 homes until 1983 when the power grid was connected to the village. In 1983, A 120-acre solar facility that supplies power to 2.500 homes for Central California was installed. Later in 1986, ARCO Solar releases the first commercial thin film model of solar energy systems. In addition to ARCO’s release, California was the site of the world’s largest solar thermal energy facility. In the 1990’s the tallest skyscraper was built in Time Square. Later in 1999, the 37th through the 43rd floor were integrated with PV on the southward and westward walls. In 2005, The Energy Policy Act was passed. This in turn, created a program to find new sources of renewable energy, as well as becoming more energy efficient. Nevada Solar One begins working in 2007. It is now the largest facility gathering solar power. Late year, in 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed. This firstly, eliminates the previous penalties when considering solar in addition to improving the tax refund up to 30%.