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2000 BCE
Crude Oil
The Chinese refined crude oil for use in heating and lighting.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_petroleum -
First Steam Engine
The first steam engine was made to remove water from coal mines.
http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015#1500-1799 -
Coal for Steam Engines
Coal became the primary fuel used by locomotives that became the link to transport resources to markets.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_coal -
First Electric Battery
Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery and had the word volt named after him.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_electricity -
Mechanical Power
Auguste Mouchout was able to turn solar radiation into mechanical power.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_solarthermal -
First Electric Plant
The first electric plant was built in New York by Thomas Edison.
http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015#1500-1799 -
Gas-powered Automobile
Karl Friedrich Benz built the first gasoline-powered automobile which was a three wheeled vehicle.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_transportation -
Energy Recovery
Energy recovery from garbage incineration started in NYC.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_MSW -
Radioactive Tracers
Herman Blumgart used radioactive tracers to diagnose heart disease.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_nuclear -
Well Drilling Technology
Improvements to deep well drilling technology led to access to more resources because of the deeper drilling.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_geothermal
