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Harnessing the power of the sun, wind, and stored energy isn’t a modern idea – it’s been around for almost as long as human society itself. The technologies we’re using today to deliver smarter, cleaner energy solutions are built upon centuries of research, innovation and ingenuity. We’ve taken a look at the historic breakthroughs and technological improvements that have allowed JLM to deliver the next generation of renewable energy technology to domestic and commercial customers in the 21st century.
Where it all began: the roots of renewable energy
Long before solar panels were a common sight on rooftops, humanity was tapping into nature’s power. The concept of solar energy dates back to the 7th century B.C. when people used magnifying glasses to make fire. The 2,000-year-old “Baghdad Battery” is reputed to be the first true battery, using copper, iron and acid to produce an electrical charge. The first windmills were developed in Persia around 700-900 CE, leveraging abundant and free wind energy to pump water and grind grain into flour.
However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the renewable technologies we use today began to emerge. Over just a hundred-year period, early commercial Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), wind turbines and solar PV emerged. The first verifiable battery was invented by Alessandro Volta in 1800, with a major breakthrough occurring in 1859 when Gaston Planté invented the first rechargeable lead-acid battery, laying the foundation for modern BESS.
A pivotal moment in solar generation occurred in 1839 when French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect—the ability of certain materials to generate an electric current when exposed to light. While the first true solar cell, created in 1883, was only about 1% efficient, it was a critical first step. And the ancestor of today’s highly efficient wind turbines was developed in 1887, when James Blyth, an electrical engineer living in Marykirk, Scotland, adapted a classic windmill design, and used it to charge 12 lead-acid batteries. As Blyth wrote, “When a good breeze was blowing, I stored as much in half a day as gave me light for four evenings.”
The leap to today: cutting-edge energy technology
While the 19th century saw important theoretical breakthroughs, the true renewable revolution began in the 20th century, as the underlying technologies were refined to work more efficiently and at a sufficient scale to be useful.
In 1954, Bell Labs created the first practical silicon solar panel, transforming solar energy from a scientific curiosity into a viable power source. Today’s panels are exponentially more efficient and affordable, making solar PV for businesses a realistic energy solution. Emerging technologies such as perovskite cells promise even greater performance and flexibility in the coming years.
Wind power experienced a similar surge, especially during the oil crisis of the 1970s, which spurred NASA and the US Department of Energy to collaborate on developing utility-scale turbine clusters, and saw the first multi-megawatt (2MW) wind turbine installed in Denmark in 1978. Modern wind turbines are now a common feature of landscapes worldwide and a cornerstone of global electricity production.
Battery storage has perhaps seen the most dramatic transformation. The lead-acid batteries of the past were surpassed by lithium-ion batteries – first commercialised in the 1990s by Sony. Initially developed for consumer electronics, these powerful and compact batteries now support everything from electric vehicles to grid-scale energy storage, offering unprecedented stability and control.
Powering the future: 21st century renewables
Today, these three pillars—solar, wind, and BESS—are no longer separate but are integrated into smart, seamless systems that optimize how we generate, store, and use power. The digital revolution and the growth of AI have helped accelerate the design, optimisation and implementation of renewable energy systems, both for large-scale implementation and small-scale domestic and commercial use.
We’re seeing quantifiable efficiency gains with each new generation of wind turbines, solar panels and battery types, and as adoption increases, costs become ever more affordable. If you’re curious to learn how the cutting-edge renewable technology of today could work for your business, we offer a free, no-obligation remote audit. Our experts will analyse your energy usage and design a personalised roadmap to a cleaner, more efficient future. Schedule your remote energy audit today.
