Solar maybe not but i could see an intelligent species figuring out that if they wrapped some copper wire around something under a waterfall that stuff happened.

Hell maybe they'd skip most of what we've done and just stick uranium into cars.

I really don't have enough scientific knowledge to offer in depth arguments as to the how of it but I think it's reasonable to assume that at least some. If not most. Of the discoveries we take for granted in modern times could have happened without oil. It would be a very different world for sure. Though.