10 Key Historical Energy Events By 240888 Apr 22, 1679 Thomas Savery creates the first crude steam engine Based off of a pressure cooker, Savery invented the first steam engine while trying to figure out how to pump water out of a mine shaft. Sep 3, 1767 The first solar collector is created Horace-Benedict de Saussure creates a box covered with three layers of glass to absorb heat Nov 1, 1800 Alessandro Volta creates the first modern day battery In 1800, Volta created the first modern day battery when he built what came to be known as his voltaic pile. The pile was made of up of zinc and copper plates with vinegar- or brine-dampened pieces of leather or pasteboard placed in between each plate. The plates were then stacked in alternating order one on top of the other with the bottom plate and the top plate acting as the positive and negative terminals.The pile looked like a stack of coins and created a constant flow of electricity that was less intense than previous attempts and allowed scientists to use electricity in controlled ways. Mar 13, 1809 English Scientist Humphry Davy invents the lightbulb Humphry Davy invents the first electric light by connecting two wires to a battery and attaching a charcoal strip between the other ends of the wires. May 2, 1835 Hippolyte Pixii discovers alternating current Through experiments with primitive electric motors and electromagnets, AC current is discovered. Dec 5, 1879 Thomas Edison invents the first reliable light bulb Thomas Edison improved the idea of the incandescent lightbulb and was able to produce a reliable source of light that would glow for over 40 hours. Jul 18, 1888 First electricity generating wind turbine is created Charles F Brush creates a "picket-fence" rotor 17 meters in diameter in Clevland, Ohio, which becomes the first wind turbine to generate electricity. Mar 1, 1936 Hoover Dam is completed The Hoover Dam, a 726 foot high dam controls the flooding of the Colorado River, created Lake Mead, and also generates and provides energy to millions of people in surrounding areas, including Las Vegas Jun 27, 1954 First nuclear power plant opens The world's first nuclear power plant opened on this day in Obninsk, outside of Moscow. Mar 28, 1979 3 Mile Island Accident Some of the reactor's at the nuclear plant failed, and a dangerous amount of radiation was realeased into the air.
