Wiktor Wise
The world relies on a variety of energy sources for electricity production, with fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) being the dominant source globally. However, there is a growing trend towards renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, and nuclear energy. While sunshine and wind are intermittent, backup generation options and smarter grids are being developed to manage this variability. In 2022, renewable electricity generation reached a record high, driven by increases in wind and solar power. Despite this progress, unabated fossil fuels still account for over 60% of total global electricity generation, emphasizing the need for further policy action to accelerate the transition to clean electricity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sources of electricity production | Fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), nuclear energy, and renewable energy |
| Largest source of electricity production globally | Coal |
| Second-largest source of electricity production globally | Gas |
| Largest source of electricity production among low-carbon sources | Hydropower and nuclear energy |
| Largest source of renewable electricity | Hydropower |
| Other sources of renewable electricity | Solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower |
| Fossil fuels as a source of electricity | Are the largest source of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been used to generate electricity for over 150 years. They are non-renewable resources that were formed from the carbon-rich remains of animals and plants that decomposed and were compressed and heated underground over millions of years. Fossil fuels are the largest source of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and their use has had a significant impact on the environment, contributing to air and water pollution and global warming.
Coal is the largest domestically produced source of energy in the United States and is a major source of electricity worldwide. Coal combustion releases various air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and particulate matter, as well as coal ash, which is challenging to recycle and can contaminate waterways. In 2022, global coal-fired electricity generation increased by nearly 2%, continuing a record-breaking streak, and accounting for 36% of total generation. However, some countries, like the UK, have significantly reduced their reliance on coal, reflecting a shift towards alternative energy sources.
Oil accounts for a smaller share of electricity production compared to coal and gas. In the United States, oil was the largest source of energy-related carbon emissions in 2020, and it constitutes about one-third of the country's energy consumption. The transportation sector is the primary consumer of oil. Oil is extracted from underground reservoirs, shale, and tar sands and then refined into fuel oil, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, and non-fuel products.
Natural gas is the second-largest source of electricity production globally and is increasingly being used as an alternative to coal. It emits less carbon dioxide and air pollutants than coal when burned. However, leaks from natural gas plants, wells, and pipelines release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In the United States, natural gas supplied one-third of the country's energy consumption in 2020, and it is projected to meet a growing share of energy demand, particularly in the industrial sector.
While fossil fuels have been a significant source of electricity, there is a growing need to transition to renewable energy sources to address climate change and reduce emissions. Renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, are rapidly developing and offer cleaner and more sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
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Nuclear energy
The contribution of nuclear power to global energy production has decreased over the years, falling from 16.5% in 1997 to 4% in 2023. This decrease is partly due to the changing economics of nuclear power, which has made it more challenging to implement. However, nuclear power still plays a significant role in electricity production in certain countries.
In 2023, the United States had the largest fleet of nuclear reactors, generating over 800 TWh per year and providing about 19% of the country's electricity consumption. France had the second-largest nuclear electricity generation capacity and produced the highest percentage of its electrical energy from nuclear reactors, at 65%. Other countries, such as Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary, also derive a significant portion of their electricity from nuclear power.
The development of nuclear energy technology has led to its use beyond electricity production. It is utilized in medicine to assist doctors in diagnosis and treatment, and in space exploration to power missions. Nuclear technology also aids in controlling the spread of diseases.
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Renewable energy (wind, solar)
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, emit little to no greenhouse gases, are readily available, and are in most cases cheaper than coal, oil, or gas. They offer an alternative to investment in new fossil fuel power generation plants and can replace generation from existing units.
Wind and solar power are growing rapidly and are responsible for one of the largest shares of global CO2 emission reductions between now and 2030. In 2023, solar PV accounted for about 70% of the growth in renewable electricity generation of over 460 TWh. The rest of the growth came from wind generation. In the US, wind energy was the source of about 10% of total utility-scale electricity generation and accounted for 48% of the electricity generation from renewable sources in 2023. Wind turbines convert wind energy into electricity. Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants provided about 4% of total US utility-scale electricity and accounted for 18% of utility-scale electricity generation from renewable sources in 2023.
Renewable energy sources are available in all countries, and their potential is yet to be fully harnessed. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90% of the world's electricity can and should come from renewable energy by 2050. Renewable energy is the cheapest power option in most parts of the world today. Prices for renewable energy technologies are dropping rapidly. The cost of electricity from solar power fell by 85% between 2010 and 2020, while the costs of onshore and offshore wind energy fell by 56% and 48% respectively.
Every dollar of investment in renewables creates three times more jobs than in the fossil fuel industry. The transition towards net-zero emissions will lead to an overall increase in energy sector jobs. While about 5 million jobs in fossil fuel production could be lost by 2030, an estimated 14 million new jobs would be created in clean energy, resulting in a net gain of 9 million jobs.
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Hydropower
The benefits of hydropower have been recognised for thousands of years, with the first industrial use of hydropower to generate electricity in the United States dating back to 1880. Hydropower is a cost-effective and renewable source of energy, offering a flexible and reliable backup power option during electricity outages. Additionally, hydropower plants can provide benefits beyond electricity generation, such as flood control, irrigation support, and water supply. The equipment used in hydropower facilities tends to have longer lifespans, resulting in lower maintenance and replacement costs over time.
However, hydropower generation also faces challenges. The installation of large hydropower facilities incurs significant civil construction and electromechanical equipment costs. These costs can be minimised through careful planning and selection of locations and designs. Additionally, pumped-storage hydroelectric systems, which pump water to upper reservoirs during low-demand periods and release it during peak demand, generally consume more electricity than they produce. Nevertheless, hydropower remains a crucial source of renewable electricity globally, contributing significantly to the electricity mix in many countries.
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Geothermal power
The first geothermal power generator was tested on July 4, 1904, in Larderello, Italy, by Prince Piero Ginori Conti. It successfully lit four light bulbs. Following this, the world's first commercial geothermal power station was built in Larderello in 1911, marking the beginning of geothermal use for electricity production. Experimental generators were later built in Beppu, Japan, and The Geysers, California, in the 1920s. However, until 1958, Italy remained the world's only industrial producer of geothermal electricity.
Dry steam plants are the oldest type of geothermal power plant and use steam directly from geothermal reservoirs to turn generator turbines. Flash steam plants, on the other hand, extract high-pressure hot water from deep inside the Earth and convert it into steam to drive the turbines. Geothermal power plants are similar to other steam turbine thermal power stations, but they use heat from the Earth's core instead of fuel to heat water or another working fluid.
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Frequently asked questions
The main sources of electricity production globally are fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and renewable energy. Fossil fuels are the largest source of electricity production, with coal being the largest source, followed by gas. Nuclear energy and hydropower are the largest low-carbon sources of electricity production.
Renewable sources of electricity include wind, hydropower, solar power, biomass, and geothermal.
Non-renewable sources of electricity production include coal, oil, natural gas, and petroleum.
