10 Key Historical Energy Events

  • Nature of Electricity

    Nature of Electricity
    Ben Franklin tied a key onto a kite during a storm and proved that static electricity and lightning were the same. His correct understanding of the nature of electricity paved the way for the future.
  • 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.
  • Lightbulb

    Lightbulb
    After many experiments, Thomas Edison invented an incandescent light bulb that could be used for about 40 hours without burning out. By 1880 his bulbs could be used for 1200 hours.
  • Alternating current energy system

    Alternating current energy system
    William Stanley developed the induction coil transformer and an alternating current electric system.
  • 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.
  • Geothermal Electric Power Plant

    Geothermal Electric Power Plant
    Italian scientist Piero Ginori Conti invents the first geothermal electric power plant.
  • Photoelectric Cells

    Photoelectric Cells
    Photoelectic cells were discovered.