Solar technology isn’t new. Its history spans from the 7th Century B.C. to today. We started out concentrating the sun’s heat with glass and mirrors to light fires. Today, we have everything from solar-powered buildings to solar- powered vehicles.
How long has solar been around for?
Solar PV (photovoltaic) was first discovered in 1839 by French scientist Edmond Becquerel. Over the next 100 years, there were other discoveries and inventions, including several discoveries by Albert Einstein, who received a Nobel Prize for his theories on the photovoltaic effect in 1921.
What are the pros and cons of using solar energy?
Pros & Cons of Solar Energy
| Solar Energy Advantages | Solar Energy Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Creates renewable energy | Takes up a lot of roof space |
| Lowers your household carbon emissions | Less production on overcast or short days |
| Excess power can be sold back into the grid | Become less efficient with time |
How old is PV?
Though solar power as we know it is no more than 60 years old, the discoveries that led to the solar cell began nearly 200 years ago. These discoveries about the properties of light and conductivity have made solar power what it is today.