The Rough Beginning Of Solar Power’s History

Since we’re speaking historically, you’re probably aware…solar power’s been around since the beginning of time…at least time as we know it. Historical records say that somewhere in the 7th century B. C. someone discovered how to use a glass-like substance to concentrate the sun’s rays for making fire. Then, using the reflective properties of different objects during the 2nd and 3rd century B. C., the Greeks and Romans focused enough sunlight to light their torches. Somewhat later, the Greeks focused enough sunlight from their metal shields to set the Roman ships on fire.

Although our earliest ancestors clearly learned to use the power of the sun, what they burned with the fires they created with a “sun-spark” was wood. Wood as a fuel has been around for more than a millennia. Fortunately for those using it as a source of heat, it was readily available. Unfortunately, for the forests necessary to maintain the earth’s climates, it was readily available, and has been significantly diminished.

Interestingly, what created the next discovery of how to use solar power was actually brought about by a diminished wood supply. As the Greeks and Romans of the 1st and 4th century A. D. found themselves without enough wood to heat their homes, they began to put in large south facing windows in their sunrooms, and in public buildings and bathhouses in order to capture and use the sun’s heat and passive energy.

Somewhere around 1200 A. D., history says the ancestors of the Pueblo people in North America also found and used the advantage of passive solar energy in their homes, building south-facing cliff dwellings in order to capture and take advantage of the winter sun.

Despite the knowledge of how to capture the sun’s energy for heating, and its availability in many areas, the mystery of how to truly capture and use more of its benefits, remained for many centuries.

As far back as the caveman, though, history shows that not only wood, but fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas were being used to provide light and heat. There are historical records showing the Romans burned coal in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and in America, the Hopi Indian history evidences the use of coal for cooking, heating and pottery making. Wood, however, clearly the most accessible and available fuel, maintained the top spot as a fuel source for a long time.

During the Industrial Revolution, coal moved into the forefront in production of energy. James Watt invented the steam engine, and powered it with steam. The steam was created by burning coal, thereafter making coal the energy-creation machine. Coal, then ultimately became one of the major symbols of American power.

The history of using the sun for active solar energy really began in the 1860′s. A French mathematician named August Mouchet created, along with his assistant, a solar-powered steam engine, using the technology that is still used today for parabolic dish collectors. The technology worked well. With coal-powered steam now readily available, however, this solar-powered steam engine got “steam-rolled” and left to collect dust.

Solar power, in many ways, has ever since remained behind the curve…left in the dark. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, surged forward and now have a firm grasp around the neck of most Americans, providing 85% of all of the energy needs of the United States. As a major source of energy, solar power has had a very difficult time getting credit and recognition.

Not until the 1970′s was solar, or other renewable energy, ever truly considered a viable option to fossil fuels. When oil prices rose to unprecedented levels, demand far exceeded supply and created long lines at gas stations. For the first time, fully realizing the dependency the United States had on foreign oil supplies, the federal government, under the administration of Jimmy Carter, created tax credits to help develop alternative energy sources.

With political pressure at its best, lobbying efforts and vast power were exerted to stem the credits, and limit the conditions for development of alternative energy sources. One method of doing that was to stymie entrepreneurial efforts that might have quickly catapulted solar energy. Small companies and entrepreneurs already had existing research and methods ready for immediately implementing solar energy in individual home, small business, and community application. Instead, available research and development dollars were channeled into large universities and organizations, where slow and methodical modeling began for large utility industrial models.

With fossil fuel industry intervention, renewable energy resources in a decentralized environment have not been deemed an appropriate path…despite all indications that this is its most viable application. Instead, reaching parity with fossil fuel energy appears to be the most that any legislation is designed, or will be designed, to do.

Despite the rough beginning and continuing obstacles that solar energy has experienced, that it is a viable alternative to fossil fuel is no longer debatable…with or without government support. Driven to produce more fossil fuel energy quickly and more profitably, companies within these industries have taken shortcuts and incurred the consequences. The risks have resulted in unacceptable loss, both in the loss of human lives, and horrendous damage to the environment. Technological advances are pushing the production of solar energy more clearly into the forefront now, making it cheaper and more readily available. With the lack of similar potential to destroy the environment, solar and other renewable energy sources will drive production up and costs down. At this point, directing solar energy resource and development tax dollars toward the creation of large, profitable utility companies may be all fossil fuel lobbyists are able to do…if…they are able to accomplish even that.

Global warming is not a myth. Everyone, whether an environmentalist or the man on the street, can see the climate changes. We all can also see the damage we are otherwise doing to the environment. Global warming may lead to a debate about its causes, but breathing clean air and protecting the Earth for the next generations will keep us focused on solar and other renewable energy sources as the best…and only…option for the future we desire.

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