In 1954, American physicists Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin, and Calvin Fuller invented the first practical solar cell at Bell Labs. The solar cell was made of silicon and converted sunlight directly into electricity. . Long before the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, generating awareness about the environment and support for environmental protection, scientists were making the first discoveries in solar energy. It all began with Edmond Becquerel, a young physicist working in France, who in 1839. . Today's rooftop installations trace their lineage through brilliant inventors, accidental discoveries, and Cold War space races—transforming sunlight into the clean electricity that powers millions of homes. Since. . Let's take a walk through history to explore how the first solar panels came to be. The Early Days of Photovoltaics In 1884, Charles Fritts, a New York-based inventor, embarked on a groundbreaking experiment that would lay the foundation for the future of solar energy.
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