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Jan 1, 1300
Chaudes-Aigues (Geothermal Heat)
Chaudes-Aigues, in France, set up an area heating system using geothermal energy.This energy is found in the Earth. The event is significant because it's the earliest known commercial use of geothermal energy in a community. Geothermal energy is important because it's reliable, sustainable and can limit global warming if used instead of fossil fuels. This discovery is important because it led to space heating of buildings in many U.S. cities and all over the world. -
Jan 1, 1450
Wipmolen (Wind energy)
The Dutch invent the wipmolen, a windmill in which the top part, where the sails are, can be turned to face the wind. The event is significant because it led to the future development of wind energy. Wind energy has become the worId's fastest growing renewable energy source. Anywhere that gets strong winds can use wind energy. The discovery is important because the design of the wipmolen led to present day technological advances to get the most power from wind with the least amount of money. -
Salomon de Caux (Solar energy)
French engineer Salomon de Caux built a solar-powered water pump using glass lenses to heat a sealed jar containing water and air. The event is significant because it's believed to be the first use of solar energy since classical times. It's important because it has led to the focus we have on solar energy as an alternative energy source today. Solar energy is valuable because since it comes from the sun it is always available, it's free, it's natural and it can be used all over the world. -
Lake Erie (Gas energy)
French explorers discovered Native Americans burning gases that were seeping into and around Lake Erie. The event is significant because it showed that people could get energy from natural gases. It was an important discovery because it led the way for gas energy to become a usable resource. Gas energy makes up about 25% of the world's energy source today. Gas energy is environmentally friendly and it is safe to transport and store. -
Thomas Newcomen (Steam energy)
English engineer Thomas Newcomen created a new kind of steam engine. It used low-pressure steam to pump water out of coal mines. This was the first successful steam engine that used vapor from the air. The discovery is significant because it showed that energy from steam could move machinery. This discovery was important for the Industrial Revolution, where steam energy powered locomotives and steamships for quick delivery of goods. Steam energy led to how transportation is today. -
Volta (Electric energy)
Alessandro Volta (Italy) invented the first electric battery. The term volt is named in his honor. The invention is significant because it led to the creation of electrical energy as we know it today. Without electrical energy we wouldn't be able to power our lights, radios, TVs, and laptops. Electric energy makes our cars go. It cooks our foods and is used in people's everyday lives more than anything else. The invention changed how we function on a daily basis. -
Titusville (Oil energy)
Oil was extracted and used as an energy source when a rig drilled down 70 feet and came up covered in oil. This rig was near Titusville, PA and was owned by "Colonel" Edwin L. Drake. The "Drake Oil Well" was the first successful oil well drilled just for the purpose of finding oil. The event was important because finding oil in the well led to the oil boom and was significant in changing the way we live by growing the oil industry. Oil energy today provides for 40% of our power supply. -
Austin Dam (Hydropower energy)
The Austin Dam, near Austin, Texas, was finished. It was the first dam toally made for creating hydropower. The event is significant because it helped develop future technologies and hydroplants to get power from rivers and falling waters so it could be used effectively as an alternative energy source all over the world. Hydropower is easy to use, it's free by nature, it doesn't burn so there is minimal pollution, and it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. -
Camp Hanford (Nuclear energy)
The first full-scale nuclear reactor began operation in the U.S. at Camp Hanford in Richland, Washington. It was part of the Manhattan Project which made plutonium for use in atomic bombs. This event is significant because it led to a big effort to expand the nuclear energy program in the U.S. It led to technological advances in nuclear energy like how to generate the most energy possible and it also led to ways to deal with radioactive contamination as a result of nuclear energy plants. -
Islay (Wave energy)
The world’s first commercial wave power station on the Scottish island of Islay is connected. Devices are put on the shoreline and at sea, using wave motion to drive pumps by compressed air. This event is important because the commercial station was able to get power from the ocean waves and shore around it. It is significant because it showed that wave power can work and be a realistic alternative to fossil fuels. It has led to more research and lots of interest in wave energy today.
