Energy Timeline

Electricity's Beginning

Mar 1, 1752

Benjamin Franklin tied a key onto a kite during a storm and proved that static electricity and lightning were the same. His understanding of the nature of electricity showed the way for the future.

Electric Motors

Mar 1, 1837

Thomas Davenport invented the electric motor, used often even in modern day.

Telegraph

Mar 1, 1844

Samuel Morse invented the electric telegraph which could send messages long distances across a wire. Morse code was also named after this man.

Hydroelectric Power Turbine

Mar 1, 1870

Lester Pelton invented a type of free-jet water turbine called the Pelton Wheel or Pelton turbine. It created energy when water turned turbines.

Lightbulbs

Mar 1, 1879

After experimenting, Thomas Edison invented an incandescent light bulb that could be used for about 40 hours without burning out.

First Battery

Mar 1, 1880

Alessandro Volta invented the first battery.

Wind Energy

Mar 1, 1888

U.S. scientist and businessman Charles Brush builds the first wind turbine to generate electricity.

Solar Power

Mar 1, 1890

French scientist Henry Becquerel, observed 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.

Mercury Vapour Lamp

Mar 1, 1901

Peter Cooper Hewitt of United States of America patented the mercury vapour lamp.

Geothermal Energy

Mar 1, 1904

Piero Ginori Conti invents the first geothermal electric power plant.