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World's First Solar Collector Created
Swiss scientist Horace de Saussure was credited with building the world's first solar collector, this collector was also known as a hot box. -
First Modern Turbine Created
British-American engineer James Fancis developed the first modern water turbine. The Francis turbine is the most widely used water turbine in the world. -
First Wind Turbine Manufactured
Daniel Halladay invented windmills in his machine shop in Connecticut -
World's First Hydroelectric Plant Created
The plant was first used to power a single lamp in the Cragside County house in Northumberland, England. -
First Wind Turbine Built To Generate Electricity
Charles F. Brush invented the first windmill to produce electricity. -
First Solar Water Heater Patented
Baltimore inventor Clarence Kemp patented the first commercial solar water heater. -
World's Largest Hydroelectric Plant Created
The Edward Dean Adams Power Plant was created at Niagra Falls. -
First Geothermal Power Plant
Prince Piero Ginori Conti invented the first geothermal power plant at the Larderello dry steam field in Tuscany, Italy. -
Rural Electrification Administration Created
The United States Federal Rural Electrification Administration was created to promote the expansion of electrical service to rural areas. -
First Large-Scale Geothermal Electricity Generating Plant Begins Operation
Pacific Gas and Electric operates the plant, located at The Geysers. The first turbine produced 11 megawatts of net power and operated successfully for more than 30 years. -
Geothermal Energy Association Created
The association includes U.S. companies that develop geothermal resources worldwide for electrical power generation and direct-heat uses. -
World's Largest Solar Thermal Facility Commissioned
Located in Kramer Junction, the solar facility contained rows of mirrors that concentrated the sun's energy onto a system of pipes. The heated liquid was then used to create steam, which powered a turbine to create electricity.