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When did the first national grid system open? Electricity was now pumping to people’s homes and thanks to pylons, stylishly designed by architect Sir Reginald Bloomfield, the country is linked with electricity. John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of the television in 1926 and the BBC then opened its doors in 1927. Into the 20 th century and we see a flurry of electrical ingenuity. What energy sector developments occurred in the early 20 th Century? The world’s first coal-fired power station, the Edison Electric Light Station, was built in London in 1882, with the promise of supplying light and warmth to London homes. The first hydro-electric plant started operating in Cragside in the UK in 1878 and, in 1888, Cleveland Ohio became home to the first windmill that generated electricity. The Victorian period was when the world witnessed enormous advancement when it came to energy. What developments came about in the power sector during Victorian times? The first step toward harnessing the energy of the sun happened in 1839, when Eduard Becquerei discovered photovoltaic energy one of the first processes in solar power. By 1827, London’s network provided gas to almost 70,000 streetlights.īut if you thought early energy was just coal fires and wood, think again. Gas was used to light London’s streets and the original gas-powered lamp posts still exist dotted around St James in London. This business opened up the markets for gas something that would transform the everyday life of millions of people, as they got their first taste of reliable light, heat and energy. Britain was still at war with Napoleon when Frederick Winsor created the first company in the world to build a public gas works and distribute gas to customers through a network of underground pipes. What year did the UK gas industry begin to develop? It was thanks to this machine that steam engines became more powerful and efficient – this made them perfect for use in factories and mills, as rates of production could increase.
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When was coal first used to produce power for transport and industry?įrom 1750, coal was used to power tools and machines and, in 1769, James Watt patented the world’s first coal-powered steam engine. Most people credit Benjamin Franklin with 'discovering' electricity in 1752, which he did by realising that the sparks emitted from lightning strikes could generate power. The Industrial Revolution kick-started our use of human-generated electricity. People rose and slept with the light, relied on wood and dung burning for heat, and water power to generate basic mills. The first source of energy was the sun, as it provided heat and light during the day. Energy has been around since the dawn of time.