Solar has come a long way since the first people used the energy of the sun to light fires. In more contemporary times, solar use has traveled to space, out to sea, and onto rooftops near you.

Here are some of the milestones:

1883 – Charles Fritts designed the first photovoltaic cell

1905 – Albert Einstein discovered the photoelectric effect [Nobel Prize in 1921]

1918 – Jan Czochralski grew the first single-crystal silicone

1954 – Bell Labs created the first photovoltaic cell

1956 – Solar cells became commercially available

1950s and ’60s – PV was used on satellites, space crafts, off-grid at sea, or in remote areas

1973 – “Solar One” built, one of the world’s first PV-powered residences

1977 – The Solar Energy Research Institute was created

1981 – First solar-powered airplane was built

1982 – First solar-powered car was built

1983 – Worldwide solar production grew from 9.3 MW in 1982 to 21.6 MW (1 year)

1993 – The first grid-supported system was completed in California

2019 – More than 2 million homes have PV systems. Solar production is 71,300 MW

2024 – Forecast: 1 solar panel installation per minute

Ready to start saving with Solar? Don’t wait; the solar tax credit expires this year! Get started by calculating your solar savings online, or call us for a free quote at 951-435-8741.