How Far Have Renewables Come?

Renewable energy has a longer, wilder history than you think — test your knowledge and get inspired.

What to know:

  • Wind, water, and sunlight have powered us for centuries — the revolution is older than it looks.
  • From ancient inventions to modern breakthroughs, renewables are rooted in human creativity and survival.
  • Take the quiz — and see why the next chapter of renewables might include you.

Learn More about this cause:

Renewable energy isn’t a new idea — it’s how humanity has survived and thrived for millennia. Before fossil fuels, people cooked with wood, moved water with wind, and lit homes using the sun.

Modern clean energy — like solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal grids — builds on that deep history. It’s evolved through innovation, activism, and global cooperation.

Today, the world is racing to switch to renewables — not just to stop climate change, but to cut pollution, lower bills, and create good jobs. And the shift is gaining speed in countries rich and poor.

This quiz will take you through some of the most surprising — and inspiring — moments in renewable energy history. Let’s get started.