Solar Technology Has Ancient Roots but Modern Applications: While humans have harnessed solar energy since the 7th century BCE using burning mirrors and passive solar architecture, the scientific foundation for modern photovoltaics wasn't established until 1839 with Becquerel's. Solar Technology Has Ancient Roots but Modern Applications: While humans have harnessed solar energy since the 7th century BCE using burning mirrors and passive solar architecture, the scientific foundation for modern photovoltaics wasn't established until 1839 with Becquerel's. Solar farms can be found in many parts of the world, harnessing the power of the sun to generate electricity for thousands of homes and businesses. The current trends in solar energy also point towards increasing affordability of solar panels. (Although no proof of such a feat exists, the Greek navy recreated the experiment in 1973 and. Though solar energy has found a dynamic and established role in today's clean energy economy, there's a long history behind photovoltaics (PV) that brought the concept of solar energy to fruition. With the way the cost of solar has plummeted in the past decade, it's easy to forget that going solar. In 213 BC, Greek scientist Archimedes set enemy ships on fire using only sunlight and bronze mirrors. This was humanity's first recorded 'solar weapon'—and the start of a 2,000-year quest to harness the sun's power. Today, solar panels power homes, cars, and even space stations.
