The sun has served as a source of light, warmth, and even metaphysical power to humankind for centuries. Beyond myth and reverence, the sun has been used practically for energy solutions ancient civilizations dazzled by the sun igniting fire to high-tech solar panels boosting renewable energy hype. It is a tale of invention, perseverance, and a dogged pursuit of a better, brighter future. Let’s explore the progress of this boundless power source through time.
Have a look at the brief history of Solar Energy and the key events that led solar power to become the success that it is today.
1839 – The Solar Cell Was Invented
When nineteen-year-old French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel created the first solar cell in 1839, he worked with metal electrodes and an acid liquid in between. This type of solar cell is called a photovoltaic cell: its ability to generate power from light.
Generally, Becquerel is stated to have discovered how a solar cell works through what is now known as “the photovoltaic effect.”
1883- First Operating Solar Modules
American inventor Charles Fritts produced the first operating solar module from solar cells made of selenium wafers. The photoconductivity of the selenium was discovered by a fellow named Willoughby Smith.
The first solar panels were incredibly inefficient, with less than 1% conversion efficiency when that rooftop in New York City used them.
1888- The First US Patent For Solar Cells
Edward Weston, however, obtained the very first U.S. patent for a “solar cell” for an invention that suggested proliferated attention and developments in solar technology to mention providing a channel for further enhanced developments in solar panels.
1901 – The First American Patent For Solar Panels
Thus, as the start of the 20th century began, inventor Nikola Tesla received the U.S. patent for his out-of-the-blue “method of utilizing, and apparatus for the utilization of radiant energy.” This could actually be called the first U.S. patent specifically designated for commercial solar systems!
1905- Einstein proposes the photoelectric effect
The great physicist Albert Einstein published his famous work on the “photoelectric effect,” an experimental phenomenon in which sunshine would provide energy to solar cells. This monumental achievement awarded him the Nobel Prize in 1922.
1954- First Production of High-Power Silicon Solar PV Cell
Decades later, some physicists of Bell Laboratories, namely Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin, and Calvin Fuller, presented the first silicon solar PV cell capable of obtaining high power. The cell used silicone rather than selenium wafers, achieving improvement in energy conversion efficiency.
1963 – High volumes of solar panels produced
Sharp Corporation made a realistic photovoltaic (PV) module using silicon solar cells for mass production of solar panels. To commemorate this accomplishment, Japan set up a 242-watt PV array on a lighthouse, the largest of such an installation in the world at that time.
1964 – NASA Launches A Solar Pv Array
NASA blasted into space the Nimbus that featured a 470-watt PV array after the success of the Naval Research Laboratory’s Vanguard I.
1970s – Research Cuts Solar Costs
Intensive solar research thus showed an impressive 80% cost decrease in PV, making possible many different applications of solar power, the most being off-grid applications.
1973 – The First Solar-Powered Building Is Constructed
“Solar One” was the name given to the first PV-powered building, installed by the University of Delaware. This building applied both PV panels and solar thermal energy as the means for achieving power generation.
1976 – First Commercial Thin Film Silicon Modules Produced
Kyocera began to manufacture thin film silicon ribbon crystal solar modules. This type of module is going to make the producing technique quite fast and affordable for thin film silicon ribbon crystal modules.
1977 – NERL Is Created
The U.S. Department of Energy inaugurated the U.S. Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, Colorado. This institute, now named the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL), carries out pioneering research in renewable energy for energy independence.
1999 – Germany’s 100,000 Solar Roofs Initiative
The 1999 programme in Germany was more ambitious than any other. It sought to launch and expand photovoltaic systems greater than 1 kilowatt (kW) capacity with funding at an amount exceeding $500 million, thus becoming a watershed project in the building of a healthy private sector with household solar. Japan previously ran a similar so-called subsidy programme based on 70,000 roofs.
2005 – Birth Of The Investment Tax Credit
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 opened an important new chapter. It introduced the 30% investment tax credit (ITC) for both commercial and residential applications of solar energy installations. The body got momentum from the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, which extended benefits.
This incentive grew to become the federal solar tax credit as we know it the biggest motivator of dollars of American expense for both homeowners and businesses toward solar technologies.
2006 – California Solar Initiative
The California Solar Initiative is an ambitious, 10-year $3 billion solar subsidy program established by the California Public Utilities Commission in order to provide financial incentives to California’s low-income single and multi-family households.
The CSI program experienced a larger-than-expected market response with more applications received than expected before closing in 2016.
2007 – Solar Becomes The Leading Clean Technology Worldwide
The late 2000s marked a transformative moment for solar energy. Investments worldwide in clean energy reached past the $100 billion mark, with solar technology the number one choice for private equity and venture capital funds. The solar tax credit brought about dramatic growth in the U.S. solar market during the period from 2006 to 2007.
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 involved many notable changes, such as the eight-year federal tax credit expansion, the elimination of caps on monetary amounts for residential solar electric system installations, and broadened eligibility to include utilities and companies.
2008 – 2012-Cost Of Pv Modules Falling
It was a unique time in which the prices of solar modules worldwide fell from around 5 to 1 dollar a watt due to strong German subsidies, as well as new support in places such as Spain, Italy, and Australia.
2012 – 2015 – Affordable Residential Solar System
Residential solar systems became economically viable for the average American household. Between 2011 and 2012, residential solar prices fell significantly, from $6.62 per watt to $4.67 per watt.
The declining trend continued, and by 2015 it reached $3.36 per watt. This drastic price cut spurred unprecedented growth, as more residential solar installations took place in the U.S. over 18 months than in any prior period.
2015 – Tesla Announces The Powerwall Launch.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors, discloses his plan for the company to move into energy.
This initial Tesla Powerwall, lithium-ion battery, was sold for homes in the United States; initially Parthenia, at a remarkably low price of $3,500, would allow an average American home to harvest and store solar energy for night consumption.
Since it was launched in 2015, Tesla has released four different versions of the Powerwall system.
2022: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Enacted
The pivotal point of transforming clean energy legislation in America was made with the actualization of the IRA, which enacted the federal tax credit for solar through 2034. It also provided billions to the state energy departments for incentive programs and rebates and domestic production of solar.
2025 – The Best Time Ever To Install Home Solar Panels
It’s the best time ever for someone to take advantage of home solar panel installation at this time. Federal tax credits are now offering 30 percent off installation costs, plus solar technology is at its most effective pricing! Think about using our solar calculator, free of charge, to find out what costs, incentives, and expected returns your installation might generate.
Conclusion
Solar energy has traveled quite a distance-from its ancient discoveries to the present high technologies that not only power homes and businesses but cities. The nation turns towards sustainability while solar energy stands at the forefront of clean, renewable, and almost limitless energy. In that sense, solar solutions provide a new avenue to energy independence, lower carbon emissions, and a cleaner planet for future generations. The sun has limitless power harnessing it for an increasingly brighter and sustainable future!
