-
2500 BCE
Egyptian Water Wheel
Used to irrigate their crop fields. https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/waterpower/277668 -
644
Persia Windmills
Their windmills were used to crush grain and also to pump water. https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/windmill/603801 -
James B. Francis' Water Turbine
A very improved and still functional way of turning water into power. https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/waterpower/277668 -
First solar cell
The first solar cell was created by Charles Fritts, who put it on his New York roof. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/sponsored/brief-history-solar-panels-180972006/ -
Hoover Dam was constructed
The Hoover Dam is used for power generation, water storage, and flood control. The dam's construction was put into motion by the government to help take the U.S. out of the Great Depression. https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/dam/273655 -
Bell Laboratories silicon solar cell
This newer solar cell produced an efficiency of 6 percent. Also, this solar cell uses silicon as a semiconductor instead of the old selenium, which wasn't as efficient. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/sponsored/brief-history-solar-panels-180972006/ -
The Three Gorges Dam was completed
The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest dam, it is located on the Yangtze River in China. https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/Hubei/274967 -
Largest wind farm in the world
It is the 100,000-acre Roscoe Wind Complex in Texas, USA, which has 627 wind turbines. https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/wind-power/277764 -
The Ivanpah solar plant became operational
The Ivanpah solar plant is one of the biggest solar plants in the United States. It is located in San Bernardino County and crosses the California border into Nevada. https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/solar-thermal/ivanpah-solar-energy-generating -
Renewable Cities
In the future, there will be massive cities that are powered by the sun, water, and the wind.