The discovery of energy has had a considerable impact on the evolution of human society. In the beginning, the first men only had their muscles to hunt, move, build shelters, and shape objects. Today, the discovery of energy has gradually led to the formation of a highly advanced modern civilization.

The energy supply provided mainly by fossil fuels now represents 80% of the world's primary energy production. Since the industrial revolution, the presence of energy has occupied a significant place in the life of human societies. Discover with SirEnergies what is the role played by energy in the rise of modern civilization.

The first sources of energy: from the discovery of fire to fossil coal

Around 400,000 BC, prehistoric humans succeeded in taming fire by using wood as the first fuel. This allowed him to warm up, to light up, to ward off wild animals and to cook his food. It was one of fundamental progress of mankind. Fire is in fact one of the first sources of energy discovered by man.

Between 9000 and 3300 BC, Neolithic humans began to domesticate animals and cultivate the land. Animals thus become a source of energy for transporting resources and for towing land. This makes daily work easier.

3,000 years before our era at the end of the Neolithic period, humans discovered a new source of energy: wind. Relying on the strength of the wind, they build the first sailing boats and set off to discover the world. This new means of transport facilitates river and maritime exchanges. 200 years before our era, The first windmills made their appearance among the Persians.

From Antiquity to the 19th century through the Middle Ages, wood was mankind's main source of energy. However, the abusive use of wood for metallurgy leads to the depletion of the resource in some regions. The men then turn to theone of the first sources of fossil fuels : Coal. It was the beginning of the industrial revolution.

The role of fossil fuel sources in the industrial revolution

At the end of the 18th century, the industrial revolution took off thanks to the combination of coal and steam. This made it possible to have an initial democratization of energy. It then becomes possible touse machine tools, to operate steamboats, locomotives, etc.

Coal

In the nineteenth century, coal allowed the transition from an agricultural society to an industrial society. Around 400 million years ago, in tropical forests and swamps, the decomposition of animals and plants formed carbon-rich layers of debris. These lodged in sedimentary rocks to form fossil coal.

It is considered to be fossil energy in the same way as oil and natural gas. The richest coal deposits are found in America and Europe.

This material became the main source of energy in the 18th century. At that time, about 300 tons of coal were extracted per year. This production increased to 1 million tons 200 years later.

The steam engine

Built in 1762 by the British engineer James Watt, The steam engine rotary motion will play a big role in the industrial revolution and the creation of a modern civilization. Steam energy is used in workshops, spinning mills, farms for operate agricultural machinery. The installation of the steam engine in factories and blast furnaces subsequently led to an explosion in industrial productivity.

In the last quarter of the 18th century, steam power and coal encouraged the growth of the British economy. The 1780s saw the democratization of steamboats on rivers and canals. In 1820, the first steamboats went to sea for international connections across the Atlantic and overseas.

The first steam trains made their entrance with the invention of the machine. Indeed, there was a need to transport iron and coal ores extracted from the mines quickly. La The first locomotive was therefore created in 1804 to pull coal cars into coal mines.

In 1825, the Stephenson brothers created a locomotive that could pull a train weighing nearly 90 tons over 70 m in length. Railways transformed the European landscape in a short time, leading at the same time to Creation of the modern world as we know it.

New energy sources and their impact on the evolution of modern civilization

In the 19th century, coal became the The world's main source of energy. However, it was still difficult to transport. It was therefore important to transform it into energy that is neither heavy nor bulky and that can be exploited at any time. This problem has led to the development of new energies that have shaped the modern world.

Electricity

In 1867, the dynamo was invented by the German Werner von Siemens. First efficient electric motor, the dynamo is a generator that allows you to transform Mechanical energy into electricity. The first power plants were inaugurated in 1882.

With a simple cable, Electric power is now delivered everywhere in Europe. Electric lamps are replacing gas burners in our cities. Years later, the light bulb was perfected by Thomas Edison for better home use. In factories, steam engines are gradually being replaced by electric motors.

Oil

In 1871, Germany specialized in purifying iron to make steel. This favors the arms race and the proliferation of wars. At the time, to operate large warships such as battleships, fuel was needed that was lighter and more energetic than traditional coal.

That's where the scene comes in Black gold: oil. Like coal, oil comes from decomposition of organic matter within the rocks. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons that has been known since ancient times.

The manufacture of the first internal combustion engines and diesel engines around 1890 led to the development of aviation and the automobile in the military and civil fields. These inventions will revolutionize human lifestyles. Because of its very unequal distribution across the globe and because of its great importance, oil will cause many economic and military conflicts. The most affected are developing countries whose subsoil is full of this resource.

Oil is the last cheap energy that powered and continues to power the modern world as we know it today. The exponential increase in its price with Oil shocks from 1973 to 1979 did not affect the use of this energy source. In the 20th century, oil became the main source of energy for naval and air transport.

Solar energy

The Sun is one of the largest sources of energy on the planet. According to several studies, the Earth receives in one hour more Of solar energy that she won't be able to use in a year. Life on Earth depends essentially on this star.

Contrary to popular belief, the exploitation of solar energy did not start with modernization. Ancient civilizations used construction techniques that allowed them tostore the sun's heat the day to keep the house warm during the night. True solar technology was developed in the 1950s. Thanks to Photovoltaic cells or solar panels, it is now possible to convert The energy of the sun in electricity.

Today, numerous innovations have been made in the sector. Humanity now generates enough solar energy to power cars, boats, airplanes, and to power homes and buildings. The Sun is considered to be a green energy that will be able to replace fossil energy in a few years, includingimpact on the climate starting to weigh a bit heavy.

Other energy sources

Apart from the energy sources mentioned above, humanity has been able to rely on many other energies to promote the modernization of societies. Examples include wind energy, natural gas, hydraulic power, nuclear energy, etc.

Wind energy

This renewable energy can be extracted from air masses. She was used in the 20th century for the production of electricity. Large wind turbines appeared in the nineties with the increase in electricity demand. Wind turbines are the second renewable energy source after the sun.

Do not hesitate to read our article on offshore wind.

Hydraulic power

Hydraulic power is manufactured from the kinetic energy of water forcibly arriving on turbines associated with alternators. Many dams are now built in sites with a large volume of water. The number of hydroelectric dams on the globe is constantly growing today with theincrease in global needs in electricity.

The gas

Natural gas is also a fossil fuel with a predominance of methane. It consists largely of hydrocarbons. It is sometimes found in the same place as oil. Natural gas started to generate interest from 1950.

Designated as a fossil fuel that is less polluting than oil, it is increasingly used today in many fields. According to several studies, it could play an important role in what is known as the energy transition. Gas is currently a strategic source of energy. Many countries are seeking to free themselves from this energy dependence of major producers.

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy was highlighted through the Discovery of radioactivity and the property of certain atoms that can break to release a large amount of energy. It is a modern energy source that will be developed in the coming years.

With a modern civilization in constant evolution, the major challenge for energy concerns our ability to control global energy consumption while giving more space to renewables. These must become more dominant in our energy systems in order to better meet the constantly growing need for energy. Today, the energy transition represents the cornerstone of fight against climate change.

It is in this context that SirEnergies offers specialized support to VSEs, SMEs and SMIs in their energy transition. Indeed, we help you find an energy supplier adapted to your situation. Our role is mainly to analyze your type of consumption in order to offer you the ideal actions for consume less while continuing your activity.

To go further, do not hesitate to consult our article on The great inventors of the world of energy.