In 1933, Department of Mechanical Engineering was founded by Institute of Engineering, Wuhan University.

In 1952, School of Water Resources was founded by Wuhan University.

In 1953, Department of Mechanical Engineering was separated from Wuhan University, and joined Central-China Institute of Technology.

In 1954, School of Water Resources was separated from Wuhan University, and Wuhan Institute of Water Resources was founded.

In 1958, Wuhan Institute of Water Resources was renamed as Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering.

In 1959, Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering set up the major of Hydropower Station Power Device, affiliated to the newly established Department of Electrical Engineering.

In 1960, Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering set up the major of Chemistry, while the students training began in 1959

In December 1964, the major of Power Plant Chemistry in Beijing Institute of Electric Power was merged into the Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering.

In 1974, Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering set up the major of Thermodynamic Instrumentation and Automation.

In 1975, Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering founded the Department of Power Plant Thermodynamic Instrumentation and Automation, the Department of Power Plant Chemistry, and the Department of Hydropower Station and Equipment.

In 1976, Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering set up the major of Power Plant Metallic Materials.

In 1977, Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering set up the major of Lifting Transportation and Engineering Machinery in Department of Water Resource and Hydropower Construction.

In 1978, the Department of Power Plant Thermodynamic Instrumentation and Automation, the Department of Power Plant Chemistry, and the Department of   Hydropower Station and Equipment were combined into the Department of Power Engineering,  and started to admit graduate students.

In 1979, Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering set up the class of Mechanical Engineering from the Department of Power Engineering.

In 1980, the Department of Mechanical Engineering was established based on the class of Mechanical Engineering, the major of Engineering Machinery and the major of Power Plant Metallic Materials.

In 1981, the major of Electromechanical Irrigation in Department of Water Resources was set up.

In 1982, the major of Mechanical Design and Manufacturing in Department of Mechanical Engineering was set up.

In 1986, the major of Thermal Power Engineering was set up. The Department of Power Engineering was divided into the Department of Thermal Power Engineering and the Department of Hydropower Engineering.

In 1987, Wuhan Institute of Water Resource and Electric Power set up the major of Welding Technology and Equipment in Department of Mechanical Engineering.

In 1993, the name of “Wuhan Institute of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering” was changed to “Wuhan University of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering”.

In 1996, the School of Power and Mechanical Engineering was established based on the Department of Thermal Power Engineering, the Department of Hydropower Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

In 1998, Wuhan University of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering adjusted disciplines. The Department of Fluid Machinery and Engineering (the original major of Electromechanical Irrigation) was merged into School of Power and Mechanical Engineering. The newly founded school was composed of the Department of Power Engineering, the Department of Mechanical and Material Engineering, and the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. Each major was adjusted based on the latest National Discipline Content.

In 2000, the new Wuhan University was founded. The new School of Power and Mechanical Engineering inherited from the former Wuhan University of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering and some Disciplines of Mechanical Engineering of the Former Wuhan University of Surveying and Mapping Science and Technology. The new School of Power and Mechanical Engineering of Wuhan University has the Department of Power Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Automation and the Department of Materials Engineering.

In 2003, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering set up the major of Water Quality Science and Technology, and the Department of Water Quality Engineering based on the former major of Power Plant Chemistry.

In 2008, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering set up the major of Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Technology.

In 2013, the major of Water Quality Science and Technology renamed as the major of  Energy Chemistry Engineering.