| The idea of turning light into energy was being | | | | home. |
| considered by Edmund Becquerel back in 1838. He | | | | The first solar energy company was The Solar Motor |
| made observations and even published his findings | | | | Company in the late 1890s. Two big plants made in |
| concerning his ideas. They were never pursued. A | | | | California in 1904 by H. Willsie used stored energy at |
| solar powered motor was patented late in the | | | | night that was gathered into batteries the day before. |
| nineteenth century using French funds. Auguste | | | | In the mid fifties the use of silicone semi-conductors |
| Mouchout designed a clever device which turned solar | | | | was discovered by three Bell Laboratories by accident. |
| power into steam powered mechanics. This led to the | | | | They were Calvin Fuller, Daryl Chaplin and Gerald |
| first steam engine. | | | | Pearson. That led to a PV cell that preformed at an |
| Ironically he also demonstrated how the sun's energy | | | | efficiency rate of six percent. The first solar panels |
| could be used to make not only fire but ice. He | | | | sold to the public were very expensive. In 1956 a solar |
| combined his steam engine with a refrigeration device | | | | panel cost an average of $300 US per watt. In 1958 |
| and was acclaimed by winning a medal for his pursuits. | | | | solar energy was used to power the Vanguard I. It |
| Even back then however, coal got in the way of | | | | was the first satellite to use solar energy to make |
| advancing the technology in France when England | | | | electricity. |
| agreed to supply coal cheaply with improvements | | | | The US began to recognize its dependency on |
| being made to the transportation system. Alternative | | | | non-renewable sources such as coal, gas and oil. It |
| energy supplies were no longer a priority. | | | | became important to seek viable alternatives in the |
| In 1873 Willoughby Smith was a Brit. He did | | | | wake of the OPEC oil embargo and the energy crises |
| experiments using selenium solar-cells. He discovered | | | | of the 1970s. Solar energy history was established |
| its sensitivity to light while doing material research for | | | | after the price per watt reached around twenty |
| underwater telegraph and cable development. A book | | | | dollars. |
| on solar energy was written several years later by | | | | The chairman of the largest solar electric company- |
| William Adams. It was the first book on the subject | | | | Luz Company, based in Los Angeles- said that the |
| calling it "A Substitute for Fuel in Tropical Countries". | | | | failure of the company (after investors withdrew their |
| Working with mirrors as a method of approach Smith | | | | support) was not because of technological failures or |
| and his assistant Richard Day powered a 2.5 | | | | because of bad business judgments. Its failure was the |
| horsepower motor rivaling the previous one of | | | | result of government regulatory committee's inability to |
| Mouchout's.5 horse power engine. His basic model is | | | | see the economic benefits of solar energy generating |
| still in use today. It is called Power Tower. | | | | plants. Today we see a renewed focus. Many people |
| Other names contributed to the progress of solar | | | | recognize the benefits of solar energy. And it is |
| power into the twentieth century. Charles Fritz created | | | | becoming increasingly more affordable. Today's |
| a solar cell with an almost two percent conversion | | | | governments across the world our sponsoring |
| rate. A French man, Charles Tellier was interested in | | | | programs to promote the growth of the solar power |
| pursuing refrigeration technology but he invented a | | | | industry in their own countries. |
| solar powered water heater and used it on his own | | | | |