The SunGlobe parabolic solar cooker at the Musée des Arts et Métiers

For several years now, the carbon footprint has been a key concept for analyzing the impact of human activities on the environment. From October 16, 2024 to May 11, 2025, the Musée des Arts et Métiers will be presenting the exhibition “Empreinte carbone, l’expo!” to provide a better understanding of this highly topical subject. The SunGlobe parabolic solar cooker from Solar Brother features prominently among the tried-and-tested solutions presented for reducing carbon footprints. This is an opportunity to look back at the invention of solar cookers, where history shows that French speakers have always been pioneers in this field.

In the 18th century, Saussure’s heliothermometer, the forerunner of the solar collector

In 1774, Horace Bénédict de Saussure, a physicist, geologist and naturalist from Geneva, developed a measuring instrument to study the calorific effects of the sun’s rays. He called the device, which closely resembled modern solar collectors, a “heliothermometer”. This invention has not come down to us directly, but thanks to Saussure’s very precise description, we can easily reconstruct it.

In the 19th century, Augustin Mouchot, a pioneer in the history of solar energy

Mathematics teacher, keen on physical experiments, Augustin Mouchot was already seeking to replace industrial fuels with solar energy. In 1869, he published La Chaleur solaire et ses applications industrielles and, in 1871, patented a solar boiler. With his partner, Abel Pifre, a Central engineering graduate, he built a solar generator that won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1878. In 1879, Pifre opened a workshop to manufacture solar equipment, and in 1881 founded the Société centrale d’utilisation de la chaleur solaire. In 1882, the two men carried out a conclusive trial in the Jardin des Tuileries: a solar generator produced enough steam to drive a Marinoni press that published a newspaper, Le Soleil, at a rate of five copies an hour.

Mouchot’s solution combined two solar developments that in previous centuries had evolved independently: the glass heat trap and the burning mirror. Mouchot invented the first solar-powered steam engine, converting solar energy into useful mechanical work.

Augustin Mouchot envisaged the main applications for his device to be the operation of lift pumps, the cooking of foodstuffs or the evaporation of liquids.

A Mouchot oven model at the Musée des Arts et Métiers

In 1880, the Conservatoire des arts et métiers acquired a model of the Mouchot furnace, a 1/3-scale reduction of a generator tested in the establishment’s gardens. This model is part of the museum’s permanent collection and is still on display today. The device consists of three components: a silver-plated cylindrical or parabolic reflecting mirror, which concentrates the Sun’s rays; a blackened copper boiler installed in the center of the mirror and containing the fluid to be heated; and a glass bell covering the boiler, designed to trap the heat.

In the 20th century, Félix Trombe, the other great pioneer of solar energy in France

Félix Trombe is a French chemist, physicist and speleologist, best known for his work on the very high temperatures associated with solar energy. In 1949, he directed the creation of a 50 kW solar furnace prototype at Mont-Louis, followed by the large and famous 1000 kW solar furnace at Odeillo in Font-Romeu.

Félix Trombe explores other ways of harnessing passive solar energy. Together with architect Jacques Michel, he created the Mur Trombe. The Mur Trombe is the forerunner of solar heating solar heating based on the generation of a flow of warm air.

Today, Solar Brother innovations

Founded by Gilles Gallo and Gatien Brault in 2016, Solar Brother is a French company behind a complete range of solar innovations for the home and outdoor activities. Solar Brother’s designs work on concentrated solar power technology and incorporate all the principles discovered by de Saussure, Augustin Mouchot and Felix Trombe. Solar Brother has designed and distributed 12 innovative products to the general public worldwide, all geared towards autonomy and energy savings, including 3 Lépine competition winners. The SunGlobe parabolic solar cooker parabolic solar cooker, currently on display at the Musée des Arts et Métiers, is the worthy heir to Augustin Mouchot’s solar cooker. All the solar ovens, cookers and barbecues designed by Solar Brother work on the triple principle of concentrating, capturing and conserving the sun’s rays. Solar Brother’s latest innovation, the new SunAero aerothermal solar heating system aerothermal solar heater, inspired by the principles discovered by Felix Trombe. It seems that the French are still pioneers in this field in the 21st century!

Link : Musée des Arts et Métiers / “Empreinte carbone, l’expo!”