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2000 BCE
Water Wheels
Wattle wheels were the first machines to uses water power. They were first used around 4000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians on the Nile River. I think this event is important because it was the first time water power was ever used. If this didn't happen then maybe no one would have ever thought to use water as a source of power. -
619
Tidal Mills
Tidal mills were first used in around 619-621. The earliest tidal mill so far discovered is in Nendrum, in Northern Ireland. I think this event is important because tidal power is slowly getting used more in the world and without this event tidal power may not be being used in modern times. -
Steam Engines
Water wheels were replaced with steam engines. Steam engines use water for power but heated up the water to turn it into steam. In 1712 Thomas Newcomen invented the practical steam engine made to pump water out of coal mines. Then in 1765 James Watt improved the first steam engines and used it to drive other machines. I think this event is important because steam engines played a big part in the industrial revolution, as they were sued for transportation and used to power factories. -
Invention of the Francis Turbine
The Francis turbines are the most common water turbines used today. This turbine was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell Massachusetts in 1949. I think that this event is important because if we did not use the francs turbine then hydroelectric power plants may not work as efficiently as they do now. -
Pelton Wheel is invented
The peloton wheel was invented by Lester Allan Pelton. The pelton wheel is an impulse type water turbine. It was invented in the 1870s. It is not entirely clear where it was invented but there is evidence to suggest that it was invented in California. I think that this invention is important because the peloton wheel is a very effective turbine. The pelton wheel extracted almost all of the waters impulse energy making it a very efficient water turbine. -
First Hydroelectricity Power Plant
H.J. Rogers built the first hydroelectric power plant and it generated enough power to light the plant, his house and a nearby building. It was built in Appleton Wisconsin on the Fox River. I think that this event is important because because that was the first hydro electric plant and now hydroelectric accounts for around 16% of the worlds total electricity production. -
Construction of the Hoover Dam begins
The hoover dam began construction in 1931 and was opened in 1936. It is located on the boarder of Nevada and Arizona. The hoover dam is a hydroelectricity power plant and produces around 4 billion kilowatt-hours per year. I think that this event is important because the Hoover dam when it was built during the great depression employed 20,000 workers and is a major supplier of hydro power. -
Construction of Rance Tidal Power Station begins
The Rance power plant in La Rance, France was the first tidal power station. It was built over a period of 6 years and opened in 1966. Albert Caquot was one of the main engineers working on the dam and was very instrumental in is construction. I think that this event is important because for 45 years this power station was the largest tidal power station in the world and produced a lot of electricity each year. -
Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant Opens
Robert Moses Niagara power station is a hydroelectric power station in Lewiston New York. It is owned and operated by the New York Power Authority. It was opened in 1961. I think that this event is important because the niagara falls power plants produce around 4.9 million kilowatts. That is enough to power 3,8 million homes. Because this power station produces so much energy with out it we would need to uses another alternative like fossil fuels which pollutes our earth. -
Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station opens
The Sihwa lake tidal power station is the worlds largest tidal power plant. It is located in South Korea and opened on the 4th of august 2011. It is operated by the Korea Water Resources Corporation. I think that this event is important because of the fact that this power station is the biggest of its kind in the world and produces a lot of electricity and was a big advancement in the use of tidal power. -
How is Hydro electricity currently used? Predictions of future Uses
The use of hydro power continues top grow around the world and has grown immensely since ancient times when it was first used. Over 90% of the renewable resources we use are hydropower and around 35 million users. I think this number will keep to increase because hydro electricity is a clean way of producing energy and does not pollute our world like using fossil fuels does. over 71% of our earth is covered in water so why not use it as a way to power our world. -
Diagram of how a hydro power station works
