100 Years of Solar Energy

"All the coal we are burning is merely the stored-up power of the sun delivered on the earth some millions of years ago.  We dig far into the ground to get this out, whereas the sun is delivering an equal power every day, right at our doors, free of all charge.  It is only necessary for us to devise the proper means for receiving this infinite power and using it to advantage."               - Frank Shuman, 1907 



Few realize that practical solar energy is over 100 years old.  Frank Shuman wrote of his 'Direct Acting Solar Engine' and the many benefits it had over coal.


His insight is even more relevant today when comparing the decreasing supply of non-renewable sources to unlimited supplies from renewables. Here is a photo of one of his solar thermal power plants from 1907....

And a solar power plant from today...

Overall, they're almost identical designs for concentrating solar energy to produce power.  

Frank Shuman has earned his place in history, but it shouldn't be limited for his contribution to the solar arts alone.  He should also be recognized as one of the first green entreprenuers.  More than this - he was also the first modern Conserver Designer.

In today's world the triple bottom line for Green Economics is recognized as People, Planet, and Profit.  Frank also had a triple bottom line, which many Industrial Ecology Engineers can appreciate.  From his book:

" A triple effect from liquefied air can always be put into boilers furnished with a column-still attachment.  The first run of this boiler would be nitrogen. This is diverted into gasometers after it has passed through the engine and given off its mechanical power, and after it has passed through brine tanks and given off its great cold to the artificial ice, and from this nitrogen Calcium Cyanamide, an excellent artificial fertilizer, can be made.     

This liquefied air, when used for mechanical power, can be made to give a true triple effect; the full amount of mechanical power, the full amount of refrigeration, and the full amount of nitrogen can be obtained, each without detracting from the other."

We're having to relearn lessons that were understood long ago. Hopefully, this time around, we won't be so quick to forget them.  

Go to our library to download "The Direct Acting Solar Engine".