10 Key Historical Energy Events

Thomas Savery creates the first crude steam engine

Apr 22, 1679

Based off of a pressure cooker, Savery invented the first steam engine while trying to figure out how to pump water out of a mine shaft.

The first solar collector is created

Sep 3, 1767

Horace-Benedict de Saussure creates a box covered with three layers of glass to absorb heat

Alessandro Volta creates the first modern day battery

Nov 1, 1800

In 1800, Volta created the first modern day battery when he built what came to be known as his voltaic pile. The pile was made of up of zinc and copper plates with vinegar- or brine-dampened pieces of leather or pasteboard placed in between each plate. The plates were then stacked in alternating order one on top of the other with the bottom plate and the top plate acting as the positive and negative terminals.The pile looked like a stack of coins and created a constant flow of electricity that was less intense than previous attempts and allowed scientists to use electricity in controlled ways.

English Scientist Humphry Davy invents the lightbulb

Mar 13, 1809

Humphry Davy invents the first electric light by connecting two wires to a battery and attaching a charcoal strip between the other ends of the wires.

Hippolyte Pixii discovers alternating current

May 2, 1835

Through experiments with primitive electric motors and electromagnets, AC current is discovered.

Thomas Edison invents the first reliable light bulb

Dec 5, 1879

Thomas Edison improved the idea of the incandescent lightbulb and was able to produce a reliable source of light that would glow for over 40 hours.

First electricity generating wind turbine is created

Jul 18, 1888

Charles F Brush creates a "picket-fence" rotor 17 meters in diameter in Clevland, Ohio, which becomes the first wind turbine to generate electricity.

Hoover Dam is completed

Mar 1, 1936

The Hoover Dam, a 726 foot high dam controls the flooding of the Colorado River, created Lake Mead, and also generates and provides energy to millions of people in surrounding areas, including Las Vegas

First nuclear power plant opens

Jun 27, 1954

The world's first nuclear power plant opened on this day in Obninsk, outside of Moscow.

3 Mile Island Accident

Mar 28, 1979

Some of the reactor's at the nuclear plant failed, and a dangerous amount of radiation was realeased into the air.