10 Key Historical Energy Events

Leonardo da Vinci designs a windmill

Jan 1, 1502

Leonardo da Vinci designs a windmill with a revolving turret.

Isaac Newton builds electric generator

Jan 1, 1709

Sir Isaac Newton builds an electric generator composed of a rotating glass sphere.

Nature of Electricity

Jan 1, 1752

Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity with the use of a kite and a key during a thunderstorm.

Electric Telegraph

Jan 1, 1844

Samuel Morse invented the electric telegraph, a machine that could send messages long distances across wire.

Rechargeable Battery

Jan 1, 1859

Gaston Plante developed the 1st lead acid rechargeable battery. these batteries are usually seen in cars today.

Wind Turbine

Jul 1, 1887

The first electricity generating wind turbine, was a battery charging machine used by James Blyth to light his holiday home in Marykirk, Scotland.

Solar Power

Jan 1, 1890

French scientist Henry Becquerel observes the production of electricity directly from the sun while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes placed in an electricity-conducting solution.

The first water turbine power plant

Mar 1, 1895

Niagara Falls, NY, was the first site of a major power plant, which was opened by George Washington.

Geothermal Electric Power Plant

Jan 1, 1904

Italian scientist Piero Ginori Conti invents the first geothermal electric power plant.

Photoelectric Cells

Jan 3, 1923

Photoelectic cells were discovered.