History of solar energy

· In 1839, a French scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered the Photovoltaic Effect – voltage and electric current in materials can be generated upon exposure to light.

· In 1883, American inventor Charles Fritz created the first working selenium solar cell by coating selenium with a thin layer of gold.

· In 1917, Albert Einstein introduced the notion that lights as packets carry electromagnetic force.

· The first practical photovoltaic cell was developed by scientists at Bell Laboratories by 1954.

· By the mid 1950s, the first solar powered telephone call was made and a year later, the first solar powered radio, that was able to function in the day and night.

· Only a few years later, the US experimented with the application of solar PV cells on Earth orbiting satellites and on 17th March 1958 the Vanguard 1 Satellite was the first satellite to generate power through solar cells. It is the oldest satellite still orbiting the Earth! Solar PV has been used to power satellites ever since.

· In 1960, the first solar car was introduced, with a solar panel roof and 72-volt battery.

· In the 1970s terrestrial application of solar PV began to emerge.

· Throughout the 1990s, solar PV started to be deployed for remote area power supply, for example: telecoms, navigational aids, aid water pumping and rural healthcare in developing countries.

· From the 2000s, solar power starts to become accessible for everyone and mandatory targets for renewable energy are now set across the EU.

· By 2018, there were more than 1 million solar PV installations in the UK and during 2018, the UK generated 3.9% of its total electricity using solar panels.

· In 2020, The International. Energy Agency declared that “Solar is the new king of the electricity markets”.

· 2022 is set to see renewable energy accounting for 90% of new power capacity expansion globally.

Photon Energy is one of the UK's most respected solar PV installers. We have installed over 60 MW of solar PV to date, and are now increasingly connecting energy storage systems.

Photon Energy is a multi award-winning, MCS-Certified PV installer specialising in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of solar PV and battery storage systems. We are particularly proud to have won PC Contractor of they Year award at the Solar & Storage Awards in 2019 AND 2021.

We have also received trophies at the National Energy Efficiency Awards and nominations for The Energy Awards.

Contact us:

Tel: 0118 997 7470 Email: info@photonenergy.co.uk