10 key historical energy events

  • electric motor

    electric motor
    Thomas Davenport invented the electric motor, an invention that is used in most electrical appliances today
  • Fuel Cell

    Fuel Cell
    Sir William Robert Grove developed the first fuel cell, a device that produces electrical energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen.
  • Electric Telegraph

    Electric Telegraph
    Samuel Morse invented the electric telegraph, a machine that could send messages long distances across wire.
  • First Oil Well in the U.S.

    First Oil Well in the U.S.
    The first oil well in the U.S., could produce oil and gas in sufficient quantities which makes it economically viable.
  • First Battery Invented

    First Battery Invented
    The first battery invented consisted of pairs of copper and zinc discs piled on top of each other, separated by a layer of cloth or cardboard soaked in brine.
  • First Electric Lamp Invented

    First Electric Lamp Invented
    It was again the same electric lamps we have today, just not as modern.
  • First Automoblie Invented

    First Automoblie Invented
    The first automobile was a one-cylinder two-stroke unit
  • Wind Turbine

    Wind Turbine
    In Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. scientist and businessman Charles Brush builds the first wind turbine to generate electricity. Measuring 17 metres tall and using 144 cedar rotor blades, it has a capacity of 12 kilowatts.
  • Hoover Dam Opened to Public

    Hoover Dam Opened to Public
    The Hoover Dam was opened to the public.
  • Solar Power

    Solar Power
    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.