16 Alternative Energy Experiments From the 1970s

During the energy crisis of the 1970s, the United States launched a broad and ambitious series of alternative energy experiments that would dramatically change its technological future. Solar energy experiments began in Delaware and Davis, while wind turbine designs were developed in Ohio and New Mexico. Federal research labs, universities, and industry investigated geothermal steam in California, ocean thermal energy in Hawaii, breeder reactors in Idaho, and biomass heating in Alaska. Even large-scale synfuel and solar energy projects were part of the national search for energy independence. Though many projects were expensive and faced technological challenges, they provided essential information and technological advances.

1. The Solar One House in Delaware

The oil crisis of the mid-1970s brought about a change in the way Americans thought about energy consumption in residential settings. On the campus of the University of Delaware, engineers constructed Solar One, one of the first houses in the U.S. that could be powered by solar energy. The house was topped with photovoltaic panels that converted solar energy into electricity. At a point when coal and oil were still the main sources of energy, this house was a defiance of fossil fuels. The house not only provided light and power to its appliances; it also tested the use of solar thermal energy for heating and cooling. Engineers monitored the performance of the house and measured its efficiency during the cloudy winter and hot summer months.

2. The MOD-0 Wind Turbine in Ohio

In 1975, a gargantuan wind turbine loomed over the countryside in Sandusky, Ohio. Dubbed the MOD-0, it was the brainchild of a government initiative to resuscitate the wind industry, which had been languishing for too long. Channeled by NASA and financed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the wind turbine was more akin to a space-age project than a rural utility. Its massive steel blades stretched far and wide, and its imposing height dominated the otherwise flat countryside. The message was clear but audacious: engineers wanted to prove that large-scale wind turbines could provide substantial amounts of electricity to the American power grid. The MOD-0 generated 100 kilowatts of power—small by modern-day comparisons but a historic first nonetheless.

3. The Raft River Geothermal Project in Idaho

In southern Idaho, near a quiet farming area, the Raft River Geothermal Project started harnessing the heat deep beneath the Earth’s surface. Geothermal energy received federal interest during the energy crisis of the 1970s. Scientists drilled wells into hot underground reservoirs and brought steam to the surface. The steam-powered turbines produced electricity without fuel combustion. The project was operated by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, which examined the possibility of using geothermal energy to power rural areas. The Raft River geothermal project posed some technological challenges. Engineers had to cope with mineral deposits in the pipes and prevent the reinjected water from cooling the underground reservoirs too rapidly. However, the plant successfully tested binary cycle technology, which enabled the use of lower temperature resources for power production.

4. The Solar Total Energy Project in Georgia

In the late 1970s, a revolutionary solar project took form in Shenandoah, Georgia. The Solar Total Energy Project aimed to provide energy for an entire community using the power of the sun. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, the project combined solar thermal energy with innovative energy storage. Banks of solar reflectors harnessed the sun’s energy, converting it into heat that produced steam to power turbines and produce electricity. At the same time, the project supplied heating and cooling to nearby structures. It was more than just a solar-powered electricity plant; it was a project that sought to establish a solar-powered neighborhood. Engineers closely monitored the project’s efficiency and seasonal performance, analyzing the effectiveness of stored heat to satisfy energy demand during cloudy days. The project had great potential, despite its high expenses and some technical challenges.

5. The Carter White House Solar Panels in Washington, D.C.

In 1979, solar panels were installed on the roof of the White House. The installation of solar panels was a gesture of energy independence by President Jimmy Carter, and the solar thermal system was used to heat water for the presidential house. Although the installation was small, its importance was not insignificant. Americans realized that their government was using solar energy during a period of oil shortages and increasing fuel costs. The solar panels did not power the whole house, but they showed that solar energy could be used in even the most historic buildings. The water temperatures and efficiencies of the system were monitored by technicians, and the system performed well, especially during the summer months.

6. The Solar Energy Research Institute in Colorado

The Solar Energy Research Institute was founded in 1977 in Golden, Colorado, with a specific mission: to investigate solar, wind, biomass, and other alternative energy sources. Later, it transformed into the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Scientists at this institution investigated photovoltaic cells and materials that could increase their efficiency, as well as thin-film technologies and solar concentrators. At a time when renewable energy sources were in a state of uncertainty, the institute provided a framework and a sense of direction. The campus served as a hub for engineers and physicists who thought that fossil fuels would not last forever. The experiments conducted at the institute led to increased panel life and reduced costs of production.

7. The OTEC-1 Ocean Thermal Energy Platform in Hawaii

In 1979, a strange-looking platform showed up off the coast of Hawaii: OTEC-1, which stood for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. The idea was to harness the difference between the warm surface waters and the cold deep ocean to create energy. This effort was backed by the U.S. Department of Energy, which wanted to know if the warm waters of the tropics could be used to create electricity without fuel. The cold water was pumped up from 3,000 feet below using massive pipes, and this difference in temperature powered a heat engine system designed to power a turbine. Although this platform did not produce commercial-grade electricity, it proved that the idea was sound. Much useful data was gathered about heat exchangers, corrosion, and stability.

8. The Experimental Breeder Reactor II in Idaho

In the 1970s, nuclear innovation took a different route at the Idaho National Laboratory. The Experimental Breeder Reactor II was built not only to produce electricity but also to produce more fuel than it consumed. It used liquid sodium as a coolant and functioned in a closed fuel cycle that recycled nuclear materials. Its supporters believed that breeder reactors could stretch uranium supplies and reduce reliance on imported oil. The reactor functioned well for many years and even powered the local electricity grid. Scientists conducted safety experiments that simulated loss of power and coolant, and in one dramatic test, the reactor staff turned off the cooling systems without triggering a disaster. The reactor calmly handled the crisis using its inherent characteristics.

9. The Alaskan Village Biomass Heating Systems

During the 1970s, diesel fuel was both costly and difficult to procure in remote Alaskan villages. Some villages started to explore the use of biomass heating systems, which utilized local wood waste as fuel. With the support of regional development initiatives and research conducted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, these systems converted forestry byproducts into productive heat. Miniature boilers heated local schools and public facilities. The idea was straightforward: instead of relying on fuel imports, communities could rely on what was around them. Engineers analyzed the efficiency of combustion and emissions, optimizing furnace designs to minimize smoke and maximize heat production.

10. The Solar Furnace at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico

In the late 1970s, engineers at Sandia National Laboratories constructed and tested a solar furnace that looked as if it belonged in a science fiction movie. A series of mirrors, called heliostats, followed the sun’s path across the desert sky, directing its rays towards a receiver tower. The generated heat was so intense that it reached temperatures hot enough to melt metals and test the properties of exotic materials. While the primary goal was to produce energy, the project also sought to understand the potential for solar power to fuel high-temperature industrial processes. Scientists monitored heat flux, thermal stress, and material resistance to high levels of illumination.

11. The Magma Power Geothermal Plant at The Geysers in California

The Geysers geothermal resource in Northern California was a testing ground for alternative energy in the 1970s. As oil prices escalated, firms such as Magma Power Company increased their activities there. Steam from the underground resource was channeled directly into turbines to generate electricity without the need for combustion. The presence of dry steam power, which was both rare and efficient, contributed to the transformation of a harsh environment into one of the planet’s largest geothermal energy production areas. Reservoir pressure and steam quality were carefully tracked to prevent resource depletion, with reinjection methods also being tested.

12. Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems in Arizona

In the 1970s, in Arizona’s sunny agricultural regions, solar-powered irrigation pumps were considered by engineers. These projects, in collaboration with Arizona State University, replaced diesel-powered irrigation pumps with solar panels. The solar panels powered electric motors, which extracted groundwater for irrigation. With increasing fuel prices, farmers realized that solar power provided a reliable source of energy in a region with plenty of sunlight. The projects were small but feasible. Scientists measured water supply, solar panel efficiency, and seasonal performance, but dust storms and intense sunlight were a challenge to the durability of the solar panels. Initially, solar panels were costly and inefficient compared to modern technology, but worked well in the clear blue skies of the desert.

13. The Synfuels Demonstration Program in the Western United States

Following the oil shocks of the early 1970s, federal planners began looking for ways to turn native coal into cleaner liquid fuels. The Synthetic Fuels Demonstration Program grew out of this, later codified as the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation. Pilot facilities in Wyoming and Colorado began testing coal gasification and liquefaction processes, where engineers began heating coal at high pressure to produce synthetic crude oil and gas. The goal was to lessen dependence on imported oil by exploiting America’s resource wealth. Although not strictly renewable, this project represented an alternative energy experiment born of national necessity. Researchers monitored the process for efficiency, pollution, and plant availability, and environmental concerns were carefully assessed, especially concerning water and land use.

14. The Solar Demonstration at the University of Alabama in Huntsville

In the late 1970s, a team of researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville developed a solar heating and cooling system for campus buildings. Flat plate solar collectors were used to absorb solar radiation and heat water, which was then pumped through an absorption chiller to cool the interior space. The goal of the project was to reduce electricity consumption during the hot summer months. The campus building was treated like a living laboratory, and engineers placed sensors to monitor temperature changes, efficiency, and long-term reliability. Students and faculty observed the performance of solar energy in a humid climate.

15. The Wind Energy Test Center at Clayton, New Mexico

In 1977, a wind turbine testing facility was set up by federal researchers near Clayton, in the state of New Mexico, because of its open terrain, consistent wind, and lack of obstructions. Operated through various programs associated with NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy, the facility tested various prototype wind turbines, with engineers studying the blades’ aerodynamics, the tower’s stability, and electrical connections. Some of the turbines were small and others towered above the prairie. Every test was a move closer to the time of commercial wind farms. Vibration measurements and stress due to strong gusts of wind were recorded by field personnel, and although mechanical failures were prevalent in the early models, each failure was a source of learning.

16. The Solar Community Project in Davis, California

One of the first solar-powered residential communities in the United States was established in Davis, California, in the late 1970s by a team of researchers and homeowners. The project, assisted by experts at the University of California, Davis, featured homes with rooftop solar collectors and designs that emphasized energy efficiency. The homes were designed to face the direction that would maximize sunlight exposure, and insulation and passive solar windows reduced heating requirements. The experiment was to determine if regular families could depend on solar energy, as residents tracked their energy bill savings and the performance of the homes throughout the year. The outcome was a definite reduction in energy consumption compared with regular designs, although difficulties were experienced in terms of higher costs and a lack of public understanding.

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• alternative energy
• energy experiments
• 70s energy