From Fire to Coal: Where Has Power Come From Throughout Time?
Today, our electricity is a seamless part of our homes and lives. It powers our lights, our devices, and keeps us connected to one another. There are many different sources of electricity, from renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydro power and geothermal and non-renewable sources such as coal and natural gas. But how did humanity come to understand how to harvest energy? What is the history of power?
Humanity discovered how to make fire about 32,000 years ago. This cataclysmic event changed mankind forever. It became our primary source of energy for hundreds of years, helping us learn to cook, which therefore, changed our brains. We learned how to use it to keep warm.
For much of history, humanity used fire to keep warm. We have used horse and animal power to do jobs we couldn’t. We used wind to travel across seas. And wind and water to turn mills that could grind our grain. Some simple machines were even powered by steam.
The Era of Coal
In the mid-1700s, the steam engine arrived. Steam engines, powered by coal, soon became all the rage. They were used to power locomotives, factories and machinery. Coal was even used to heat buildings. In 1880, the world’s first electric generator was powered by a steam engine, and Thomas Edison introduced the first electric light bulb to Wall Street.
The world’s first hydroelectric power grid was built a year later in Wisconsin, harnessing the power of fast flowing rivers to generate electricity.
The Energy Boom
Electricity quickly began to spread, changing society and our lives forever. Power plants grew into enormous coal plants and hydropower dams. Power lines stretched across and through towns, connecting to even rural homes during the Great Depression. We began to use this electricity more and more, gradually being able to lower the cost.
In New Zealand, our power grid system is owned and operated by Transpower.
Where Does Electricity Come From Today?
In New Zealand, we get our electricity from a combination of non-renewable sources and renewable sources. Non-renewable energy sources are typically fossil fuels, made from burning coal, gas and oil. While this has been a reliable source of energy for a long time now, it isn’t clean and is considered harmful to the environment as it releases carbon dioxide. Fossil fuels are also a limited resource as they come from decomposed plant and animal material made over millions of years.
We also get our electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro power. These energy sources are cleaner and are constantly replenished, therefore, they are considered better for the environment.
Save Money on Power by Comparing
These days, energy retailers are having to continually increase their prices to combat the rising costs in the industry. Many “parts” in the power network are as old as the 1960s, and need to be maintained and upgraded so that the network can provide enough electricity for everyone, and for the growing demands. As prices rise, it is important to keep up to date with industry changes and avoid paying too much where possible by comparing your power bill.
Here at Power Compare, we are on a mission to help Kiwis make better choices through knowledge. Our user-friendly comparison website empowers you to make a fully informed choice about your power bill by allowing you to compare all of the plans and providers available to you. By doing so, you are more likely to save money on your electricity bill, and to prevent paying more than you need to.
It is easy and quick to compare and the best part is it is FREE. Simply:
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Our platform is bias-free and obligation-free, designed to help you save money.