A brief history of solar energy

History of solar energy

When we think of solar energy, we tend to assume it’s a 21st century creation. However, the history of solar cells is much longer, dating back to the 18th century. Here, we explore the development and history of solar energy from the mid-1700s to the present day.

• The first solar cells

While civilisations have been harnessing the sun’s energy for millennia, using it to create fire, it was in 1767 that the first solar cell was designed by Swiss scientist Horace-Benedict de Saussure. He made an insulated box with three layers of glass and an opening, which magnified the sun’s heat to over 110 degrees Celsius.

It wasn’t until 1839, however, that the photovoltaic effect was defined. Aged just 19, French scientist Edmund Bacquerel discovered that when exposed to light, an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes placed in an electrolyte produced increased energy. Over 40 years later, American Charles Fritts made the first photovoltaic cell, which had an efficiency of about 1%. This may not seem like much, but the invention proved that solid material with no moving parts could be used to convert solar energy into electricity.

• The development of the concept

The 20th century arrived and with it, a paper published by Albert Einstein on the photoelectric effect. Discovered in 1887 by Heinrich Hertz, the effect describes how electrons are released from solids, liquids or gases when they absorb light energy. In 1908, three years after Einstein’s paper, William J Bailey invented the Copper Collector, which added copper insulation to the original collector method. The improvements that this achieved are still being used in modern solar panels.

• Modern solar panels

The modern junction semiconductor solar cell was patented by Russell Ohl in 1946 – and barely a moment too soon. In 1953 global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels began to gain press coverage, and the need for renewable energy started to be recognised. The first practical photovoltaic cell in the history of solar was developed at Bell Laboratories in 1954. Solar powered telephones and radios followed, and the US even experimented with solar panels on Earth-orbiting satellites.

Although attempts to commercialise solar photovoltaics in the 1950s and 60s were largely unsuccessful, a company named Hoffman Electronics was able to increase efficiency to 14%. The price per watt of solar power dropped in the 1970s and by the 1980s, solar power plants were in operation.

At the turn of the millennium, solar panels had become big business. Governments and consumers alike were far more aware of the benefits of solar energy, and investment in it increased. At the end of 2011, some 230,000 solar power projects were underway in the UK. In 2023, more than 1.3 million British homes had solar panel installations. Today, solar panels are cheaper to install and more efficient than ever.

If you’re looking for Kent solar PV installation, the team at South East Solar and Electrical can help. Our solar PV experts have over 15 years’ experience and can ensure you have the right system to meet your needs. We also carry out solar PV maintenance to keep your panels running efficiently. Get in touch with us today to arrange a visit from our solar panel installers.