“125 Years of Electricity” from IEEE and IEEMA

IEEE today announced a collaborative effort with the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA) to present a coffee table book entitled, "The Foundations of Electricity: 125 Years of Electricity". The book, written by Robert A. Dent, focuses on the international advancements and improvements in electricity—from 1882 through 2010.

"This book illustrates the significant developments of electricity over a 125-year period. These advancements are built on the discoveries of many giants of electricity, their theories, and the resultant products,” said Dent. “The contributions to electricity have occurred by engineers around the world. The outcome of these developments is to make our lives more comfortable by reducing or eliminating drudgery, and for some, it has given them the opportunity to live better lives otherwise experienced only by the wealthy over the last 100 years.”

IEEMA collaborated with IEEE by constructing the structure, conceptualization, designing, editing, and leading the team in India to publish the book. The impact of electricity in modern lives was explicitly captured and illustrated in the contents of the book through a large timeline of events.

“Electricity is modern life. Without access to reliable power, our lives would be much more like they were before the industrial revolution: solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” said Babu Babel, IEEMA president. “Nearly every feature of modern civilization depends on affordable, reliable electricity and the things it powers. This includes lamps and heaters to safely keeping our homes well lit and comfortable, smart phones to stay in touch with loved ones, and always-on data centers to give us a reliable Internet connectivity… among countless others. Electricity is so crucial to modern life, in fact, that the history of electricity is really the history of the modern world.”

The publication of “The Foundation of Electricity: 125 Years of Electricity” exhibits the combination of engineering, electrical systems and the energy industry. IEEE Power & Energy Society President Damir Novosel stated: “In the coming decades, the electric power and energy industry will be vastly different than it is today. As we contemplate what the grid of the future will look like and how it will meet the demands of society, it is imperative that we reflect upon the past 125 years of modern energy development and recognize that the initiatives we undertake today will affect the way we live in the future. This book helps us chart the course for the future as electricity will be the main source of energy for years to come.”

To learn more or to purchase “The Foundation of Electricity: 125 Years of Electricity”, please visit the IEEE Smart Grid Resource Center. Please note that sales of the book are limited to buyers within the United States. For international sales, please contact Angelique Rajski Parashis at [email protected].