First Solar Panel Invented

Already in the 19th century french engineers began to use a steam installation powered by solar energy for printing books.

First solar panel invented.

Just 7 years later charles fritts an american inventor created the first solar cell by layering selenium onto a gold backing. It all started in 1839 with 19 year old physicist named edmond becquerel. In a way many physicists played a part in solar cell invention. He even didn t imagine that his invention would help people prepare their dinner two and a half centuries into the future.

Courtesy of john perlin take a light step back to 1883 when new york inventor charles fritts created the first. 3 though we use silicon in cells for modern solar panels this solar cell was a major precursor to the technology used today. Charles fritts installed the first solar panels on new york city rooftop in 1884. Therefore the credit for the invention of the modern solar panel cannot go to a single individual entity.

Almost 50 years after the photovoltaic effect s discovery in 1883 american inventor charles fritz created the first working selenium solar cell. Therefore some consider the true invention of solar panels to be tied to daryl chapin calvin fuller and gerald pearson s creation of the silicon photovoltaic pv cell at bell labs in 1954.