When was solar power first used?

Humans first directly harnessed solar power in the 7th century B.C., when a magnifying glass was used to concentrate the sun's rays to make fire. The first solar device to produce electricity from sunlight was installed on a rooftop in New York in 1883 by American inventor Charles Fritts.

Who invented solar energy?

The first solar device to produce electricity from sunlight was installed on a rooftop in New York in 1883 by American inventor Charles Fritts. In 1905, Albert Einstein discovered light particles known today as "photons." He predicted that photons above a certain energy level would eject electrons.

Why do we need solar energy?

Today, solar energy is one of the fastest growing sources of our electricity. And new improvements are making solar cells even lighter, cheaper, more powerful, and more flexible, so we can use them in more places. [NREL logo]

What was the first satellite with solar panels?

At first, solar panels were only used to power remote pieces of electrical equipment—like rural telephone lines—and satellites in space. In fact, Vanguard 1—the first satellite with solar cells—was launched in 1958 and (though it's stopped working) remains the oldest artificial satellite in orbit today, logging more than 6 billion miles.

Who invented the solar-electric cell?

In 1954, scientists at Bell Labs created the modern solar-electric cell, partly by accident, while researching the properties of silicon semiconductors. They found that when certain impurities were added to silicon, it generated a strong electric current when exposed to light.