(Image credit: Pixabay)
The last several decades have seen a significant rise in renewable energy adoption in countries looking to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. This endeavor is marked by innovation, necessity and the pursuit of sustainability, and as societies grapple with the challenges posed by fossil fuel dependence, the exploration of renewable energy adoption has become increasingly imperative. Interestingly enough, this endeavor can be traced back centuries, interweaving with humanity's quest to harness nature's forces for power generation.
From the earliest civilizations to the Industrial Revolution and up to this moment in history, societies have looked to ingenious ways to harness renewable energy sources. Water wheels and windmills stand as early testaments to those efforts, converting kinetic power into mechanical power to do everything from grinding grains to sawing wood. The dawn of the 20th century saw advancements in alternative energy technologies, signified by the construction of massive dams and hydroelectric plants. The same can be said for the discovery of photovoltaic principles that laid the groundwork for the development of large solar farms that span acres.
As environmental concerns mount and the impact of climate change becomes increasingly apparent, the urgency to transition to renewable energy sources continues to grow. Today, alternative energy technologies, such as wind, solar and hydro (among others), are at the forefront of global efforts to tap into those resources. In this article, we will take a look at the birth of those technologies that laid the groundwork for today's modern innovations.
Wind
James Blyth's windmill was the first working turbine to generate electricity, which he designed in 1887 to power his home. (Image credit: Strathclyde)
Harnessing the power of wind can be traced back to ancient times with the invention of sails to propel boats across the seas, but it wasn't until centuries later that it was used to generate electricity. That honor goes to Scottish electrical engineer James Blyth, who became a prominent professor of Natural Philosophy at Anderson's College, where he pursued an active research program with a particular interest in the generation and storage of electricity from wind power.
Blyth was liked by both his students and faculty at the institution, as he was known for his down-to-earth attitude, hardworking nature and his willingness to roll up his sleeves when work needed to be done. Those feelings were also shared by the local community, where he would hold lectures and demonstrations for those in attendance. In 1887, Blyth designed his first cloth-based wind turbine in the backyard of his cottage and used the electricity it produced to power the lights in his home, making it the first in the world to be powered by wind-generated electricity. Blyth described his unique turbine as "a tripod design, with a 33-foot wind shaft, four arms of 13 feet with canvas sails, and a Burgin dynamo driven from the flywheel using a rope." It's reported that the generator could produce enough electricity to power ten 25-volt bulbs using a moderate breeze and could drive a small lathe.
Speed was an issue for Blyth's first design, as its lack of a braking system made it prone to damage during strong winds. He would revise the design over the next few years, with the final pumping out of electricity over 25 years, and offered a surplus to the local populace to light the main street; however, they declined because "electricity was the work of the devil." Blyth was awarded a UK patent for his final design in 1891, and by 1895, he licensed his windmill to a Glasgow engineering company, which used it to supply emergency power to an insane asylum, infirmary and dispensary, which lasted 30 years.
Solar
Charles Fritts designed his solar cell by coating selenium in a thin layer of gold, which had a conversion rate of 1 to 2 percent. (Image credit: SGE Solar)
Solar technology can be traced back to the 7th century when glass was used to start fires, but the first device to harness the sun's power for electricity wasn't designed until much later when inventor Charles Fritts installed selenium cells on a rooftop in New York in 1883. The Fritts solar cell was a revolutionary design and was created by coating selenium cells with a thin layer of gold to form a junction. That junction had the remarkable capability of directly transforming sunlight into electrical energy, and although the cell was modest compared to today's standard, with a conversion rate of 1 to 2 percent, its creation marked a significant milestone in using solar power as a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
Fritts' work sparked interest in the scientific community and sparked further research and experimentation in the field of photovoltaics. While his selenium-based solar cells never caught traction due to their limited efficiency and high cost, they laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements in solar cell technology. His design comes 44 years after French scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes placed in an electricity-conducting solution, which increased when exposed to light.
It wasn't long after Fritts's solar panel design that inventor Edward Weston acquired two patents for solar cells, which Weston proposed "to transform radiant energy derived from the sun into electrical energy, or through electrical energy into mechanical energy." His designs focused the sun's light via a lens onto solar cells onto a thermopile composed of bars of dissimilar metals. The light heats the solar cell and causes electrons to be released and current to flow. That same year, Russian scientist Aleksandr Stoletov created the first solar cell based on the photoelectric effect, which is produced when light falls on a material and electrons are released.
It wasn't until the 1950s that companies ditched selenium in favor of silicon for their solar cells. Bell Labs researchers Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson were the brains behind the company's silicon solar cell, and although it was considered the first practical device for converting solar energy to electricity, it was still expensive for most people. An energy crisis in the 1970s kicked the federal government into gear and passed the Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974, and the federal government was committed more than ever "to make solar viable and affordable and market it to the public."
Hydroelectric
Hydro is another renewable energy source that can trace its origin to thousands of years ago when it was used to grind grains and provide irrigation to crops. It wasn't until the mid-1700s that running water could be used to generate power when French engineer Bernard Forest de Belidor came up with the idea and wrote his groundbreaking Architecture Hydraulique. Belidor's hydroelectric designs were based on the principle of harnessing the kinetic energy of flowing water to generate electricity, and it was also the first time integral calculus was used for solving technical problems. His approach involved constructing dams or weirs to create reservoirs, which would store water and provide a controlled flow to drive waterwheels. Those waterwheels were connected to generators, which converted the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Belidor focused his designs on efficiency and optimization and conducted extensive research into the design and placement of waterwheels to maximize power output while minimizing energy bleed. His design concepts also helped to improve the performance and reliability of hydroelectric power plants, making them more economically viable and environmentally sustainable. They were also ahead of their time, serving as precursors to the large-scale hydroelectric projects that would emerge in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, hydroelectric power is one of the most important sources of renewable energy, accounting for a significant portion of global electricity generation. While modern hydroelectric power plants have evolved substantially since Belidor's time, his pioneering contributions continue to influence the design and operation of hydroelectric stations used in many countries. His legacy as an engineer serves as a testament to the power of human ingenuity in harnessing the forces of nature for the benefit of society.
Conclusion
Harnessing renewable energy was shaped by a series of early advancements that laid the foundation for the modern systems employed today. Pioneers like James Blyth, Charles Fritts and Bernard Forest de Belidor demonstrated the potential of wind, solar and hydroelectric power with their innovative (for the time) designs and engineering principles.
As we continue to mitigate the challenges of climate change and seek to transition to a more sustainable future, it is essential to recognize and appreciate the contributions of these early innovators. Their legacy serves as a reminder of the transformative power of human ingenuity and the enduring importance of pursuing renewable energy solutions to address the environmental issues of our time. By building on those advances of the past, we can continue to progress in our fight against climate change to ensure a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable world for future generations.
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