The History Of Renewable Energy

Vaclav smil energy in world history westview press 1994.

The history of renewable energy.

Daniel yergin the prize. But what he got was hot water which turned to steam. Brief history of renewable energy era by era. For centuries people have harnessed the energy of river currents using dams to control water flow.

The roots of renewable energy group go back more than two decades to when we operated under the umbrella of west central cooperative in ralston iowa. Renewable solutions to environmental problems mit press 1994. Early industrial growth was powered by water mills. They took over because they seemed much cheaper than the renewable sources.

A history of renewable energy it may or may not come as a surprise to learn that before the discovery of coal deposits around the time of the industrial revolution most of the energy we used for lighting and heating was from renewable sources with one or two exceptions. Renewable energy defined as energy that can be renewed unlike fuels like gas oil or coal started in europe over 2 000 years ago. It all started with waterwheels which mimic the workings behind hydropower. A farmer drilled a well hoping for some cold fresh water.

During most of human history renewable energy has been the only energy option available. Of course this was a brute form but it created the premise for today s technological feats. Only during the last few centuries has fossil and lately nuclear energy sources been used in a non renewable way. Hydropower is the world s biggest source of renewable energy by far with china.

Energy expert paula garcia talks about the growth of renewable energy across the globe and in the united states. Michael brower cool energy.