A Swiss scientist, Horace de Saussure invented the world’s first solar energy collector, or ‘hot box’ in 1767.
In the 1830s British astronomer John Herschel used a solar energy collector box to cook food during an expedition to Africa.
Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his experiments with solar energy and photovoltaics.
Enough sunlight falls on the earth every minute to meet the world’s energy demands for an entire year.
If we covered a small fraction of the Sahara desert with photovoltaic cells, we could generate all the world’s electricity requirements.
All TV and communications satellites are powered by solar energy using photovoltaic cells.
Here's a few more facts:
Basic facts about solar energy:
•Solar energy reaches earth from the sun through its rays.
•Energy from the sun comes in the forms of light and heat.
•The term solar energy refers to the use of energy from the sun.
•Solar power more specifically refers to the utilization of the sun’s energy for electricity.
Facts about solar energy usage:
•Solar thermal technology makes use of the sun’s heat.
•Photovoltaic (PV) technologies convert light from the sun into electricity.
•Solar thermal technology can also create electricity by creating steam to power generators.
•The use of solar energy does not cause greenhouse gas emissions.
Other interesting facts about solar energy:
•In 1990, a solar powered airplane flew across the U.S.
•During the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci already had plans for solar concentrators in his notebooks.
•In just one hour, the earth receives more energy from the sun than the entire world uses during a whole year.