Solar Energy SystemsThe sun is an unlimited source of clean renewable energy, and unlike oil or nuclear power does not produce damaging byproducts in the form of nuclear waste or carbon emissions. As such it is an ideal method of reducing your carbon footprint and other harmful emissions when consuming various forms of energy. Why solar power is not in general use is really a mystery as it is a proven, cost effective system of clean renewable energy. But one can probably put it down to a lack of public awareness of this untapped goldmine of energy. This lack of general knowledge by the average person has put solar energy into the somewhat mystical field of space age technology. When factually basic solar energy collection systems are down to earth and almost laughably simple. |
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A Brief History of Solar EnergyThe idea of collecting energy from the sun is not a new one, factually one of the first solar energy plants was built in 1912, in Egypt, by an American inventor called Frank Shuman. It was capable of generating 63 horse power and did so by using the sun's energy in order to heat water. The heated water was then used to power a steam engine. Unfortunately this system never got into general use. Even though solar energy was in its pioneer stages this first energy plant paid for itself within 3 years.
A Frenchman called August Mouchinot had developed a solar powered steam engine about 50 years earlier in 1866. This steam engine was used for pumping water. Unfortunately this project was deemed "commercially unviable" for reasons unknown. In 1876 a man named Adams built another solar powered steam engine capable of creating 2.5 horspower. This engine was used as a water pump in what was then called Bombay. There are many more solar engines and power plants that were built in the 18th century but I think you get the point. Solar power has been in use succesfully for the last 150 years but somehow never caught on in a large scale commercially except for a few temporary peaks. There have been many other simple devices designed and built in order to make use of solar energy. For instance in 1891 the first commercial solar water heater was patented in the united states by Clarence M. Kemp. The design was simple yet amazingly effective. All it consisted of really was a water tank painted black, and put inside an insulated pinewood box with one pane of glass to let the sunlight in. It was mounted either on the roof or on the external south wall. By the year 1900 over 1600 of these had been installed an were in use in California alone. Over the years there were several improved designs, solar water heaters and the solar water heating industry grew quite a lot by 1941 over 60000 water heaters were installed and in use in Florida. But cheap oil and government subsidized electricity eventually faded out the solar industry. One could go on and continue to name temporary peaks of solar water heaters or solar energy collectors but the only point that is being made is that the technology for the utilization of solar energy has been around for over one and a half centuries. It has proven itself as a clean, viable and renewable source of energy again and again. Yet for some inexplicable reason it has never caught on as permanent and reliable source of cheap energy. Not because of workability, but simply due to lack of promotion and effective marketing of solar energy.
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See also our Solar Charger Guide to estimate which Solar Charger you need and how many watts you will require.
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