‘The History of Solar’ — a technology timeline

By Selectra UK | Article reviewed and updated by Cornelia Zavoianu, Selectra Energy Expert | Updated 11 July 2026 | 3 min read

This is ‘The History of Solar’, an illustrated timeline of the milestones in solar technology. It traces the field from the 7th century B.C. to the present, and offers a glimpse of what may come next.

The History of Solar — a technology timeline

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What this document is

The document sets out solar milestones century by century and year by year, beginning with early uses of magnifying glasses and burning mirrors to concentrate the sun’s heat — including the account of Archimedes reportedly focusing sunlight to set fire to Roman ships besieging Syracuse.

From those ancient origins it continues towards modern solar-powered buildings and vehicles. It is a general-interest history of the technology rather than a technical manual.

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This document is hosted here for reference because external sites link to a copy that previously sat on this domain. Read it in the viewer above or download the PDF.

Article written and reviewed by a verified Selectra expert

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Selectra UK

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The Selectra UK editorial team provides guides on energy, insurance, and telecoms to help UK consumers make informed decisions.

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