10 Key Historical Energy Events

  • Start of Electricity

    Start of Electricity
    One day, Ben Franklin decided to tie a key to a kite during a storm to prove that static electricity and lightning were the same thing.
  • Motor

    Motor
    Thomas Davenport invented something called the "Electric Motor", which is used in many appliances today.
  • A Fuel Cell

    A Fuel Cell
    William Robert Grove invented the Fuel Cell, which makes electrical energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen.
  • Photovoltaic Effect

    Photovoltaic Effect
    The photovoltaic effect is the creation of an electric current in a material when exposed to light.
  • Telegraphs

    Telegraphs
    Samuel Morse invented something called the "electric Telegraph" that allowed people to send telegraphs through an electric wire.
  • And then there was Light

    And then there was Light
    Thomas Edison invented a the first ever light bulb. (although at first it only lasted for 40 hrs before burning out)
  • Energy Systen

    Energy Systen
    William Stanley made the first induction coil transformer as well as an alternating current electric system.
  • Turbine

    Turbine
    Charles Brush made the first ever wind turbine in order to generate electricity.
  • Solar Power

    Solar Power
    Henry Becquerel observed the production of electricity from the sun and then experimented with electrolytic cells that were made of metal electrodes.
  • Geothermal

    Geothermal
    Piero Ginori Conti invented the first ever geothermal electric power plant.