Modern solar panels were invented in 1954, when researchers at Bell Telephone Laboratories demonstrated the first practical silicon solar cell. Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson built a device that converted sunlight into electricity at roughly 6% efficiency.
Earlier discoveries led to that development:
| Year | Milestone | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1839 | French physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect. | He showed that light could produce an electric current. |
| 1870s to 1880s | Scientists developed selenium-based photovoltaic cells. | These were among the first devices to convert light directly into electricity. |
| 1884 | An early solar array was installed on a New York City rooftop. | It showed that several solar cells could be combined into a panel-like system. |
| 1954 | Bell Labs developed the first practical silicon solar cell. | The design became the basis for modern photovoltaic panels. |
| 1958 | Solar cells powered the Vanguard 1 satellite. | The mission showed that solar cells could provide power for long-term space use. |
What Is the Difference Between a Solar Cell and a Solar Panel?
A solar cell is a single photovoltaic device that converts sunlight into electricity. A solar panel, also called a photovoltaic module, connects multiple solar cells to produce more electrical power.
The date depends on what "solar panels" means:
- 1839: Discovery of the photovoltaic effect.
- The 1880s: Development of early selenium solar cells and panel-like arrays.
- 1954: Development of the practical silicon solar cell used as the basis for modern solar panels.
For the technology used in modern solar panels, the answer is 1954.