Encyclopedia/2. Technology & The Built World/4. Energy & Transportation • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
The clean energy revolution traces the evolution of solar photovoltaics from the 1839 Becquerel effect to modern perovskite tandem cells, and wind power from ancient windmills to utility-scale grid integration, highlighting key technological breakthroughs and global adoption milestones.
Chronological Storyline (39 Milestones)
500 BCE
Ancient Windmills in Persia
Early vertical-axis windmills are used in Persia for grinding grain and pumping water, demonstrating the earliest harnessing of wind energy. #windpower #history
Ancient Windmills in Persia By Cnyborg - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=209855
1839 CE
Becquerel Discovers Photovoltaic Effect
French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel observes the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell, laying the foundation for solar energy conversion. #solar #science
Becquerel Discovers Photovoltaic Effect By David Monniaux - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=308998
1873 CE
Willoughby Smith Discovers Selenium Photoconductivity
English engineer Willoughby Smith finds that selenium's electrical resistance decreases when exposed to light, leading to early photoconductive cells. #solar #history
Willoughby Smith Discovers Selenium Photoconductivity By Unknown author - http://atlantic-cable.com/CablePioneers/Smith/index.htm, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41023088
1883 CE
Charles Fritts Builds First Solar Cell
American inventor Charles Fritts coats selenium with a thin layer of gold to create the first solid-state photovoltaic cell, achieving about 1% efficiency. #solar #invention
Charles Fritts Builds First Solar Cell By Unknown author - Department of Energy Retrieved Aug. 17, 2005., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=461648
1887 CE
Charles Brush Builds First Wind Turbine for Electricity
American inventor Charles F. Brush constructs a 12 kW wind turbine in Cleveland, Ohio, to generate electricity for his home, a pioneering step in wind power. #windpower #invention
Charles Brush Builds First Wind Turbine for Electricity By Unknown author - http://omp.ohiolink.edu/Images/Bdg/Hist1MDS/d154/1030697033709.Om56_138.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5597037
1904 CE
Einstein Explains Photoelectric Effect
Albert Einstein publishes his explanation of the photoelectric effect, providing the theoretical basis for photovoltaic energy conversion and earning the 1921 Nobel Prize. #solar #science
Einstein Explains Photoelectric Effect By Ponor - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92684859
1918 CE
Jan Czochralski Develops Crystal Growth Method
Polish chemist Jan Czochralski invents a method to grow single-crystal silicon, later crucial for high-efficiency solar cells. #solar #technology
Jan Czochralski Develops Crystal Growth Method By Krauss - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64122631
1941 CE
First Silicon Solar Cell by Russell Ohl
American inventor Russell Ohl discovers the p-n junction in silicon, leading to the first silicon solar cell patent. #solar #invention
Apr 25, 1954 CE
Bell Labs Demonstrates First Practical Silicon Solar Cell
Scientists at Bell Labs, including Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson, create a silicon solar cell with 6% efficiency, marking the birth of modern photovoltaics. #solar #technology
1955 CE
Western Electric Licenses Solar Cell Technology
Western Electric begins commercial licensing of Bell Labs' solar cell technology, enabling early applications in remote telecommunications. #solar #business
1958 CE
Vanguard I Satellite Uses Solar Cells
The Vanguard I satellite is launched with a small array of solar cells to power its radio, demonstrating the viability of photovoltaics in space. #solar #space
Vanguard I Satellite Uses Solar Cells By NASA photo (retouched) - National Space Science Data Center: Vanguard 1, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2372145
1960 CE
Hoffman Electronics Achieves 14% Solar Cell Efficiency
Hoffman Electronics improves silicon solar cell efficiency to 14%, pushing the technology toward practical terrestrial use. #solar #technology
1973 CE
Oil Crisis Spurs Solar and Wind Research
The 1973 oil embargo triggers government investment in renewable energy, accelerating development of solar photovoltaics and wind turbines. #energy #history
Oil Crisis Spurs Solar and Wind Research By Isochrone - Own work using: Spot Crude Oil Price: West Texas Intermediate (WTI), Dollars per Barrel, Monthly, Not Seasonally Adjusted WTI Spot Crude Oil Price, via the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Inflation adjusted using: CPI Average, via the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156152880
1975 CE
First Multi-Megawatt Wind Turbine: Smith-Putnam
The Smith-Putnam wind turbine, a 1.25 MW machine, is built in Vermont, USA, pioneering large-scale wind power generation. #windpower #technology
First Multi-Megawatt Wind Turbine: Smith-Putnam By United States Government - http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/searchpix.cgi?getrec=1080709&display_type=verbose&search_reverse=1File name: 13533.JPG, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3963406
1977 CE
U.S. Department of Energy Launches Solar Energy Research Institute
The U.S. establishes the Solar Energy Research Institute (now NREL) to advance solar and renewable energy technologies. #solar #policy
U.S. Department of Energy Launches Solar Energy Research Institute By Courtesy of DOE/NREL - Timmerman, Bill - http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/searchpix.cgi?display_type=verbose&max_display=1&skip_hf=1&query=^14964, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2697648
1980 CE
First Thin-Film Solar Cell (Copper Sulfide/Cadmium Sulfide)
Researchers develop the first thin-film solar cell using copper sulfide and cadmium sulfide, offering a cheaper alternative to crystalline silicon. #solar #technology
First Thin-Film Solar Cell (Copper Sulfide/Cadmium Sulfide) By Fieldsken Ken Fields - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10861988
1981 CE
Wind Turbine Grid Integration in California
California begins installing large wind farms in the Altamont Pass, San Gorgonio Pass, and Tehachapi, integrating wind power into the grid. #windpower #energy
Wind Turbine Grid Integration in California By United States Department of Energy - https://windexchange.energy.gov/states/ca, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=151016640
1985 CE
University of New South Wales Achieves 20% Silicon Cell Efficiency
Martin Green's group at UNSW reaches 20% efficiency for silicon solar cells, a major milestone for crystalline silicon technology. #solar #research )
University of New South Wales Achieves 20% Silicon Cell Efficiency By Ecole polytechnique Université Paris-Saclay - This image has been extracted from another file, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49631410
1991 CE
First Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell
Michael Grätzel and Brian O'Regan invent the dye-sensitized solar cell, a low-cost thin-film alternative. #solar #innovation
First Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell By Ronald vera saavedra colombia (bogota)ISE; - Transferred from de.wikipedia to Commons., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1219106
1997 CE
Kyoto Protocol Promotes Renewable Energy
The Kyoto Protocol sets binding emission reduction targets, boosting global investment in solar and wind energy. #energy #policy
Kyoto Protocol Promotes Renewable Energy By User:Canuckguy, User:Danlaycock - File:UNFCCC parties.svg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35866083
1999 CE
First Commercial Perovskite Solar Cell Research
Early research on perovskite materials for solar cells begins, though practical cells emerge later. #solar #research
First Commercial Perovskite Solar Cell Research By Dennis Schroeder / National Renewable Energy Laboratory - https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/perovskite-solar-cells, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=131749994
2000 CE
Germany's Renewable Energy Act (EEG)
Germany passes the EEG, providing feed-in tariffs that dramatically accelerate solar and wind deployment. #energy #policy
Germany's Renewable Energy Act (EEG) By Kuebi = Armin Kübelbeck - own work http://www.best4sports.de own website, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3347938
2004 CE
Global Solar PV Installations Exceed 1 GW
Worldwide cumulative solar photovoltaic capacity surpasses 1 gigawatt, driven by German subsidies and falling costs. #solar #energy
Global Solar PV Installations Exceed 1 GW By RCraig09 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=137881716
First Offshore Wind Farm: Horns Rev By Halava - Own work using en:GRASS GIS, en:Inkscape and en:GIMP. Data sources: Elevation and bathymetry data from NGDC ETOPO1 Coastlines, rivers and borders from NGDC World Data Bank II Exclusive economic zones from Eurosion Cities from OpenStreetMap (manually) Map Projection: Universal Transverse Mercator Typeface: Gentium Book Basic from SIL International, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11707771
2008 CE
China Becomes World's Largest Solar PV Manufacturer
Chinese manufacturers like Suntech and Yingli ramp up production, driving down solar panel costs globally. #solar #manufacturing
Tsutomu Miyasaka and colleagues report the first perovskite solar cell using CH3NH3PbI3, achieving 3.8% efficiency. #solar #innovation
2010 CE
Global Wind Capacity Reaches 200 GW
Worldwide installed wind power capacity hits 200 gigawatts, with China leading new installations. #windpower #energy
Global Wind Capacity Reaches 200 GW By Technical University of Denmark (DTU) - https://globalwindatlas.info, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73041874
2012 CE
Solar PV Grid Parity Achieved in Several Markets
Solar photovoltaic electricity becomes cost-competitive with retail electricity in countries like Germany, Italy, and Australia. #solar #economics
Solar PV Grid Parity Achieved in Several Markets By Sandegud. Based on this blank map in public domain - Own work. Deutsche Bank, Let the Second Gold Rush Begin, 6 January 2014, (archive) Deutsche Bank, Crossing the Chasm, 27 February 2015, (archive), CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40325709
2013 CE
Perovskite Efficiency Surpasses 15%
Perovskite solar cell efficiency rapidly climbs to over 15%, sparking intense research interest. #solar #research
2015 CE
Paris Agreement Accelerates Clean Energy Transition
Nearly 200 countries adopt the Paris Agreement, committing to limit global warming and boost renewable energy. #energy #policy
Paris Agreement Accelerates Clean Energy Transition By L.tak - This file uses File:Detailed Blank World Map.svg as a basis. Changes to the paths and their classes, are shown in the Changelog, which is included at the beginning of the file. Please do also update the Changelog, so that at any time the file can be updated easily if the political map (state borders) changes in the future., CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48320267
2016 CE
Solar PV Becomes Cheapest Electricity in History
In some regions, solar PV power purchase agreements fall below $0.03/kWh, making it the cheapest source of new electricity. #solar #economics
2017 CE
First Commercial Perovskite Solar Modules
Companies like Oxford PV and Saule Technologies begin pilot production of perovskite solar modules. #solar #business
2018 CE
Global Wind Capacity Exceeds 600 GW
World wind power capacity reaches 600 GW, with offshore wind growing rapidly in Europe and Asia. #windpower #energy
Global Wind Capacity Exceeds 600 GW By 林 慕尧 / Chris Lim from East Coast (东海岸), Singapore (新加坡) - Windmills in China?{D70 series}, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2909338
2019 CE
Perovskite Tandem Cell Efficiency Reaches 28%
Researchers achieve 28% efficiency for perovskite-silicon tandem cells, surpassing the best single-junction silicon cells. #solar #innovation
2020 CE
Solar PV Installations Surpass 700 GW Globally
Cumulative solar PV capacity exceeds 700 GW, with China, the US, and India leading deployment. #solar #energy
Solar PV Installations Surpass 700 GW Globally By WiNG - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7155522
2021 CE
Offshore Wind Capacity Reaches 50 GW
Global offshore wind capacity hits 50 GW, with the UK, China, and Germany as top markets. #windpower #energy
Offshore Wind Capacity Reaches 50 GW By SteKrueBe - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17009450
2022 CE
Perovskite Tandem Cells Exceed 30% Efficiency in Lab
Multiple research groups report perovskite-silicon tandem cells with over 30% efficiency, approaching theoretical limits. #solar #research
2023 CE
Global Renewable Energy Capacity Surpasses 3,000 GW
Renewable energy capacity reaches 3,000 GW, with solar and wind accounting for the majority of new additions. #energy #renewables
Global Renewable Energy Capacity Surpasses 3,000 GW By kallerna - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=103494974
2024 CE
First Gigawatt-Scale Perovskite Solar Factory Announced
A major manufacturer announces plans for a 1 GW perovskite solar panel factory, signaling commercialization. #solar #manufacturing
