Recent Solar Energy History

Solar Power Information, Past and Present

Information on Recent Solar Energy History and developments in solar's acceptance as a mainstream power source. This fast paced industry has earned the respect of the green energy gurus.

recent solar energy history

Long since used in the remotest of locations, solar power is coming down to earth.

Several types of solar collectors have been developed, and conversion into energy from collection has improved considerably. At present, commercial solar cells can covert approximately 20 percent of energy absorbed from sunlight into electricity. While this doesn't sound like much, if you consider all the figures, it becomes clear how immense these numbers are.

Researchers believe that solar thermal collectors can capture nearly 80 percent of insolation (the measure of solar energy received on a given area in a set amount of time, usually measured as kilowatts per square meter) as usable heat. This may not sound sufficient to relieve the need for other sources of energy, but take the following into consideration.

In recent history, solar energy has proven to be the most abundant renewable resource available to the world. In fact, in a single minute, there is enough solar energy intercepted by the Earth to more than equal the amount of energy used in the entire world from fossil fuels for an entire year. With ongoing research, the ability to store and produce a flow of solar energy has greatened and become feasible as an alternative to coal and oil power plants.

If we capture even a fraction of a percent of the sunlight that spills upon the earth we can vastly improve our environmental condition.

Other devices have been created and put to good use in the last 35 years, as well. For example, passive solar energy in the home is more common, with solar panels mounted in backyards and on roofs to collect radiation energy and distribute it for the heating of water, as well as the heating and cooling of homes. Solar chimneys are also becoming more mainstream for the heating and cooling of residences.

Other newly discovered advantages of solar energy in recent history include:

Solar electric generation has the highest power density of all renewable resources at a global average of 170W/m2.
After setup, there is little need for maintenance of facilities producing solar energy, and operating costs are much lower than grid connected power sources.
Solar energy is much more cost effective for island and remote territories than grid connection.
One remaining factor for the future is to find a way to produce AC (alternating current) from solar cells as opposed to DC (direct current), since converting the power incurs a 12% power loss.

Read tons more interesting solar power information on our facts about solar energy page.

Many countries and communities are reaching a critical load on existing grid electricity. In order to keep up with demand either more smelly, fossil fuel burning, power plants must be built or alternatives need to be given a closer look.

With the onset of some of solar power's latest discoveries in recent solar energy history it won't be long (less than 10 years) before solar becomes a mainstream source of energy .