The Timeline of Solar Power

Have you ever wondered where solar power came from? How do we know it's reliable? And when will it become a major energy source for homes and businesses? If you're considering solar panels for your home or business, these questions might be on your mind. It's completely normal to question new technology, especially when the world has long relied on fossil fuels like coal.

A recent survey by Project Solar found that 34% of UK residents believe that new buildings will be required to use solar power as their main energy source in the next 50 years. While this isn’t yet mandatory, the growing trend of government policies suggests it could become a reality—especially if the UK is aiming to produce only clean energy by 2035.

This timeline gives you a clearer picture of how solar energy was first converted into electricity and how it’s becoming more widespread today. Over the last two centuries, solar power has made incredible progress. It's amazing to see how quickly the technology has advanced. Even though solar is now one of the most common renewable energy sources, many people don’t know its full history.

1839

It all started in 1839 when a young French scientist named Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect. At just 19 years old, he was experimenting in his father’s lab when he noticed that connecting platinum electrodes to silver chloride in an acidic solution created a current when exposed to light. Although this early solar cell wasn’t powerful enough for practical use, it laid the foundation for future developments in solar technology.

1883

In 1883, American inventor Charles Fritts created the first functional solar panel. He coated a thin layer of selenium with gold, making a device that could convert about 1% of sunlight into electricity. While not efficient by today’s standards, it proved that sunlight could be transformed into usable power.

1905

That same year, Albert Einstein published a groundbreaking paper that explained how solar panels work. He built on Max Planck’s theory of quantum energy and proposed that light is made up of particles called photons. When these photons hit a metal surface, they can knock electrons loose, creating an electric current. This became known as the photoelectric effect and is still the basis of modern solar technology.

1915

Robert Millikan conducted experiments to test Einstein’s theory, but instead, he ended up proving it. His work helped solidify the scientific understanding of how light interacts with materials to generate electricity.

1954

The first practical silicon-based solar panel was developed at Bell Labs in 1954. Scientists like Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson created a working model that could generate electricity efficiently. They even used it to power a small toy Ferris wheel and a radio transmitter, marking a major milestone in solar innovation.

1994

In 1994, the UK saw the first instance of solar power being fed back into the national grid from private homes. Brenda and Robert Vale’s “Autonomous House” in Nottinghamshire became a symbol of self-sufficiency, proving that solar energy could be integrated into everyday life.

2006

Solar panels began to gain mainstream attention in the UK when retailers like Curry’s started selling them. Prices were high, but this marked the beginning of a shift toward domestic solar adoption.

2010

The Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) program launched in 2010, offering homeowners payments for the electricity they generated. This encouraged more people to install solar panels, helping boost the UK’s solar capacity significantly.

2012

The UK government set a goal to power 4 million homes with solar energy by 2020. While the target wasn’t fully met, it signaled a strong commitment to renewable energy growth.

2016

By 2016, the UK had surpassed 10,000 MW of solar capacity, showing that solar was becoming a serious alternative to traditional energy sources.

2020

In 2020, the FiT scheme ended, and the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) took over. Under SEG, households are paid only for the excess energy they send back to the grid, rather than for all the electricity they generate.

2023

New building regulations under Document L require all new homes to cut COâ‚‚ emissions by 31%. This sets the stage for a greener future, with solar playing a key role in reducing environmental impact.

2025

The Future Homes Standard will go into effect in 2025, aiming to reduce carbon emissions from new buildings by up to 80%. This further supports the UK’s transition to sustainable living.

2035

The UK has set a target for all electricity to come from zero-carbon sources by 2035. This will likely lead to a significant increase in solar installations, wind farms, and other clean energy technologies.

2050

The ultimate goal is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. With strong government policies and public support, the UK is moving steadily toward a sustainable energy future.

As more people embrace solar energy, it's clear that the future of power is changing. Whether you're looking to reduce your energy bills or contribute to a cleaner planet, solar panels offer a smart and sustainable choice. If you're interested in making the switch, visit our homepage to learn more about how you can benefit from solar energy.