Solar panels are now a familiar sight across homes, businesses, warehouses and industrial buildings throughout the UK. But solar energy is far from being a modern invention, read on to find out the brief history of Solar.
Humans have been finding ways to use the power of the sun for thousands of years. The technology we recognise today as solar PV, however, has its roots in scientific discoveries made almost 200 years ago.
So, when was solar energy first discovered, who invented solar panels and how did we get from the first experiments with sunlight to the commercial solar systems we use today?
Let’s take a look at the history of solar energy.
Humans Have Used the Sun’s Energy for Thousands of Years
Long before solar panels existed, people understood the importance of the sun as a source of heat and light.
Ancient civilisations designed buildings to make use of sunlight and warmth, while sunlight was naturally used for activities such as heating, drying and cooking.
Much later, scientists began looking for ways to deliberately capture and concentrate the sun’s energy.
In 1767, Swiss scientist Horace de Saussure is credited with developing an early solar collector. His work demonstrated that sunlight could be captured and converted into useful heat.
This was an important early step in the development of solar thermal technology.
But generating electricity from sunlight was a much bigger challenge.
When Was Solar Energy First Used to Generate Electricity?
The scientific history of modern solar electricity begins in 1839.
French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered what became known as the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell.
He observed that exposure to light could increase the production of electricity. This discovery demonstrated that light could be converted directly into electrical energy.
The discovery was remarkable, but practical solar electricity was still a long way away.
It would take more than a century of scientific research before solar cells became capable of producing useful amounts of electricity.
The First Solar Cells
During the nineteenth century, scientists continued investigating materials that could convert light into electricity.
In 1876, William Grylls Adams and Richard Evans Day discovered that selenium could produce electricity when exposed to light. Although these early cells were not efficient enough to power everyday electrical equipment, they demonstrated that solid materials could convert light into electricity without heat or moving parts.
Then, in 1883, American inventor Charles Fritts described solar cells made from selenium wafers.
These early solar cells were extremely inefficient compared with modern technology, but they represented another important step towards the solar panels we know today.
Einstein and the Science Behind Solar Power
The development of solar technology was not just about inventing better cells. Scientists also needed to understand the physics behind how light could produce electricity.
In 1905, Albert Einstein published important work explaining the photoelectric effect. His work helped scientists understand how light interacts with matter and ultimately contributed to the scientific foundations behind modern photovoltaic technology.
Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
The scientific understanding of light and electricity was steadily developing, bringing practical solar power closer.
1954: The Birth of the Modern Solar Cell
If 1839 marks the discovery of the photovoltaic effect, 1954 is arguably the most important date in the history of modern solar panels.
Scientists at Bell Laboratories in the United States, Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson, developed a practical silicon photovoltaic cell.
The new silicon solar cell could convert sunlight into electricity at an efficiency of around 5-6%, a major improvement over earlier technologies.
This was the breakthrough that helped turn solar electricity from an interesting scientific concept into a potentially useful technology.
Interestingly, the technology was not initially developed primarily for putting solar panels on rooftops.
Solar Power Goes Into Space
One of the first major applications for photovoltaic technology was the space industry.
Solar cells were particularly useful for satellites because they could generate electricity without fuel, combustion or moving mechanical parts.
In 1958, solar cells were used to power the Vanguard 1 satellite, demonstrating the potential of photovoltaic technology in space.
Solar power became an increasingly important technology for satellites and spacecraft.
The extreme cost of supplying energy in space also made solar technology economically attractive despite the relatively high cost of early solar cells.
The Oil Crisis Helps Drive Solar Development
For several decades, photovoltaic technology remained relatively expensive and was used primarily in specialist applications.
That began to change during the 1970s.
The oil crisis of 1973 created widespread concern about energy security and dependence on fossil fuels. This helped stimulate greater investment and research into alternative energy technologies, including solar power.
Governments, universities and businesses began investing more heavily in improving solar technology and reducing its cost.
Over time, solar cells became more efficient and manufacturing processes improved.
Solar Panels Become More Affordable
The development of solar technology continued throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
Manufacturing improvements, increased investment and growing demand helped bring down the cost of photovoltaic systems.
The technology also began moving beyond specialist applications.
Solar panels started appearing on buildings, homes and commercial properties, while larger solar farms demonstrated that photovoltaic technology could generate electricity at a much greater scale.
According to the International Energy Agency, decades of technological innovation, together with the rapid expansion of solar manufacturing, have helped make solar electricity increasingly cost competitive around the world.
How Have Solar Panels Changed?
The solar panels installed today are a world away from the early experimental cells developed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Modern photovoltaic systems use highly developed semiconductor technology to convert sunlight into electricity.
Silicon remains the dominant material used in solar PV. The US Department of Energy reports that monocrystalline silicon represented 96% of global solar module shipments in 2022, highlighting how important silicon remains to modern solar technology.
Modern solar modules can also achieve efficiencies that would have seemed extraordinary when the first practical solar cells were developed.
This continual improvement has helped make solar energy a realistic option for businesses looking to generate renewable electricity on site.
Solar Energy Today
Solar energy has come a remarkably long way.
What began with a scientific observation in 1839 has developed into one of the world’s most important renewable energy technologies.
Today, solar PV systems can be installed on:
- Commercial buildings
- Warehouses
- Factories
- Offices
- Agricultural buildings
- Schools
- Industrial facilities
- Large-scale solar farms
For businesses, solar can provide an opportunity to generate renewable electricity directly on their premises.
And importantly, businesses don’t necessarily need to purchase their solar system outright to benefit from solar power.
Solar Power Purchase Agreements
One of the developments making commercial solar more accessible is the Solar Power Purchase Agreement, or Solar PPA.
A Solar PPA can allow an eligible business to benefit from solar-generated electricity without having to make the same significant upfront investment associated with purchasing a solar PV system.
Under a PPA, a solar provider typically arranges the installation and maintenance of the solar system, while the business purchases the electricity generated by the system under an agreed long-term arrangement.
For businesses with suitable roofs and significant electricity consumption, this can provide an attractive route towards renewable energy.
Instead of solar technology simply being something a business purchases, a PPA can provide another way for businesses to access the benefits of solar while preserving capital for other business priorities.
From a Scientific Discovery to Commercial Solar
The history of solar energy is a story of continual innovation.
1839: Edmond Becquerel discovers the photovoltaic effect.
1876: Selenium is shown to produce electricity when exposed to light.
1883: Charles Fritts develops early selenium solar cells.
1905: Albert Einstein publishes his work explaining the photoelectric effect.
1954: Bell Laboratories develops a practical silicon solar cell.
1958: Solar cells demonstrate their potential by powering a satellite.
1970s: Energy concerns drive increased investment in solar research and development.
Today: Solar PV is a rapidly growing global energy technology, with increasingly efficient and cost-effective systems being deployed around the world.
What started as an experiment with light and electricity has become a practical way for businesses to generate renewable energy.
Could Your Business Benefit From Solar?
The history of solar energy shows just how far the technology has come.
Today, businesses can take advantage of highly developed solar PV technology to generate electricity on their own premises.
If you have a suitable commercial or industrial property, a Solar PPA could provide a way to benefit from solar-generated electricity without the need to purchase the entire solar installation upfront.
At Sunpower Services, we can assess whether your property could be suitable for a commercial solar PPA.
Find Out If Your Business Could Be Suitable
To discuss your property and find out whether your business could be eligible for solar through Sunpower Services, complete our contact form and a member of our team can discuss your requirements.
Alternatively:
Email: mail@sunpowerservices.co.uk
Call: 01634 295354
The next chapter in solar’s history could be happening on your business premises.
Information known to be correct at the time of publishing on 29th October 2026.