Energy Timeline

By 124822

  • Natural gas is discovered

    Natural gas is discovered
    Natural gas is discovered in England.

  • The electric relay

    The electric relay
    Joseph Henry invents the electric relay which allows a current to travel long distances from its starting point.

  • Invention of distilled coal oil

    Invention of distilled coal oil
    In 1850, James Young of Scotland creates the first distilled coal oil.

  • The first lightbulb is invented

    The first lightbulb is invented
    Thomas Edison creates the first successful lightbulb using a carbon filament and was classified as an incandescent lightbulb.

  • First solar cell

    First solar cell
    The first solar cell was invented by Charles Fritts, which makes up all of the solar panels we use today.

  • First hydroelectric powerplant

    First hydroelectric powerplant
    In 1887 at High grove Station in San Bernardino, California, the first hydroelectric powerplant was established.

  • The discovery of the electron

    The discovery of the electron
    Joseph John Thomson discovers the electron, the first known particle smaller than an atom.

  • First peacetime nuclear reactor

    First peacetime nuclear reactor
    The first peacetime nuclear reactor starts construction in the U.S. in Brookhaven, New York.

  • First gas turbine to pump natural gas

    First gas turbine to pump natural gas
    The first gas turbine to pump natural gas was installed in Wilmar, Arkansas.

  • Six million windmills were installed

    Six million windmills were installed
    In 1970, there were over six million windmills installed all through out the United States of America.