Energy · 1776

Watt steam engine

A separate condenser cuts fuel use by about three quarters and launches the Industrial Revolution.

James Watt's separate condenser kept the cylinder hot, and with Matthew Boulton he sold engines from 1776. Rotary versions from 1782 drove mills anywhere coal could be delivered. Steam power decoupled industry from rivers and set off two centuries of energy growth.

See it in the living tree Wikipedia

Arcs above join it to what it stood on, arcs below to what it led to. The bar places this stretch on the tree's whole timeline.

What it built on 3

What it led to 10

Watch

World's oldest steam engine brought to lifeHistory West Midlands · YouTube Watt steam engineMuséum Genève · YouTube

Related measurements

The dashed line marks when it first worked.

UK coal production since 1700 Latest: 2.17M tonnes (2019) Source: Our World in Data

Output of key industries in England, 1270-1870 Latest: Coal: 3.77k index (1700=100) (1870) Source: Our World in Data

Energy sources in England & Wales since 1800 Latest: 99.9 % of primary energy (2008) Source: Our World in Data