Wiktor Wise
As of 2023, China is the world's largest producer of electricity, with over 9.4 petawatt-hours generated. The United States is the second-largest producer, generating 4.5 petawatt-hours, followed by India, which produces almost two petawatt-hours. While coal and natural gas remain the primary sources of energy worldwide, China has the largest share of clean electricity capacity installed by country. In 2022, China recorded the largest year-on-year change in coal and renewable generation, with renewable electricity growth outpacing coal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Largest creator of electricity | China |
| Year | 2023 |
| Amount of electricity produced | Over 9.4 petawatt-hours |
| Second-largest creator of electricity | United States |
| Amount of electricity produced by the US | 4.2-4.5 petawatt-hours |
| Third-largest creator of electricity | India |
| Amount of electricity produced by India | 1.5-2 petawatt-hours |
| Largest source of electricity globally | Coal |
| Second-largest source of electricity globally | Gas |
| Largest low-carbon source of electricity | Hydropower |
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What You'll Learn
Coal is the largest source of electricity
Nevertheless, coal remains the dominant source of electricity for many countries. Oil accounts for only a small share of electricity production, with most fossil fuel-based electricity coming from coal and gas. Nuclear power has played a key role in low-carbon electricity production, with countries like France obtaining around three-quarters of its electricity from nuclear sources. Hydropower and nuclear power are the largest contributors to low-carbon electricity production, although wind and solar are growing quickly.
The history of electricity and its pioneers is a fascinating one. The development of electricity has been pivotal in the technification and modernisation of humanity, allowing innovations in all areas of life. Many scientists and inventors have made significant contributions to the field of electricity. One of the first researchers of electricity was Benjamin Franklin, who is credited with discovering electricity in 1752 through his famous kite experiment. This experiment demonstrated that lightning consists of electricity.
Another important figure in the history of electricity is Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist who invented the first electric battery in 1800, known as the 'voltaic pile'. This device produced a steady flow of electrical current and was a significant advancement. Michael Faraday, a British scientist, discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction and laid the foundation for the development of electric generators and transformers. Other notable pioneers include Nikola Tesla, who improved the efficiency of electricity transmission with alternating current (AC) power transmission, and Thomas Edison, who contributed to the practical application of electricity and the development of the first commercially successful lightbulb.
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Gas is the second-largest source
The largest creator of electricity globally is coal, with gas being the second-largest source. Gas has seen a rapid increase in usage in many countries as a substitute for coal, which has seen a decline in usage, particularly in the UK. This shift from coal to gas is positive from a climate perspective, as gas emits less CO2 per unit of energy. However, the overall goal is to transition from gas to low-carbon sources such as nuclear and renewable energy.
Nuclear power has long been a key player in low-carbon electricity production, with countries like France obtaining most of their electricity from nuclear power. Renewable energy sources such as hydropower, wind, solar, and nuclear make the largest contribution to low-carbon electricity production. While wind and solar energy sources are growing quickly, they are not yet able to compete with gas and coal as the dominant sources of electricity production globally.
Fossil fuels, which include coal, oil, and gas, remain the largest source of global carbon dioxide emissions. Oil, however, only accounts for a small share of electricity production. While gas is a better alternative to coal, it is still a fossil fuel and thus a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions.
The transition away from fossil fuels is necessary to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. This involves a shift towards low-carbon sources such as nuclear and renewable energy. While gas is currently the second-largest source of electricity, the goal is to eventually replace it with cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.
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Hydropower and nuclear are the largest low-carbon sources
The world will need a significantly increased energy supply in the next 30 years, especially in the form of cleanly-generated electricity. Hydropower and nuclear energy are the two largest low-carbon sources of electricity. Hydropower is a renewable, low-carbon source of energy and a cost-effective alternative to electricity generation by fossil fuels. Independent research suggests that the use of hydropower has helped to avoid more than 100 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide in the past 50 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report noted that only wind and nuclear power have lower median lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than hydropower.
Nuclear energy is the second-largest source of low-carbon electricity production globally. It is a zero-emission, carbon-free, clean energy source that generates power through the process of splitting uranium atoms to produce energy. The heat released by this process is used to create steam that spins a turbine to generate electricity. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the United States avoided more than 471 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2020, which is equivalent to removing 100 million cars from the road.
Hydropower and nuclear energy are particularly valuable because they can provide a continuous and reliable supply of electricity, which is a challenge for other renewable energy sources. Nuclear energy, for example, has a quick ramp-up and can provide electricity on-demand. It also requires less land than other clean-air energy sources. A typical 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility in the United States only needs a little over 1 square mile of space to operate.
Reports on future energy supply suggest that an expanded role for nuclear power is required to create a sustainable future energy system.
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Oil accounts for a small share of electricity production
The largest sources of electricity globally are coal, oil, and gas, with coal being the largest, followed by gas. Oil accounts for only a small share of electricity production. The share of electricity produced from coal, oil, and gas differs across the world. In the US, the transportation sector accounts for the largest share of petroleum consumption, with gasoline being the most-consumed petroleum product, accounting for about 43% of total US petroleum consumption in 2022. Distillate fuel oil is the second-most-consumed petroleum product in the US, including diesel fuel and heating oil. Diesel fuel is used in electricity generators, among other heavy machinery.
In 2020, renewable energy accounted for about 20% of US electricity generation, and that share is expected to continue to grow. Oil constituted about one-third of US energy consumption in 2020, with the transportation sector accounting for most of the oil consumption. Oil is also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, oil combustion was responsible for 45% of US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
The future of oil through 2050 remains uncertain as economies move away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable renewable energy. Coal's share of the energy mix has been steadily decreasing as the costs of natural gas and renewable energy sources have dropped, making coal less competitive. As coal usage has dropped in the US, so have carbon dioxide emissions from coal combustion—by 50% from 2007 to 2019. Natural gas is burned to generate an increasing share of US electricity, and in 2020, it supplied one-third of the country's energy consumption. While generating electricity from natural gas emits less carbon dioxide and fewer air pollutants than coal, leaks from natural gas plants, wells, and pipelines emit methane, a greenhouse gas that is more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
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France gets most of its electricity from nuclear power
France has a long history with nuclear power, dating back to the 1890s when Henri Becquerel discovered natural radioactivity. The country's first commercial nuclear reactor came online in the 1960s, but it was following the 1973 oil crisis that France began its large-scale plan to build its nuclear power fleet. This shift towards nuclear power was driven by France's limited fossil fuel resources and the desire to reduce reliance on energy imports, which had previously led to price shocks during the oil crisis.
Since the mid-1980s, nuclear power has been the largest source of electricity in France. In 2021, nuclear power plants generated approximately 68% of the country's electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This heavy reliance on nuclear energy has made France a net electricity exporter, supplying power to other European countries. In 2017, France exported 38 TWh of electricity to its neighbours.
However, France's nuclear power plants are aging, and there has been growing concern about their safety following incidents like the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, which sparked widespread protests in France demanding the closure of reactors. Despite this, the French government has generally supported the expansion of nuclear power. In 2022, President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to build six new reactors, with the possibility of constructing eight more by 2050.
In December 2023, data showed that France continued to generate roughly two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear power, well above the global average of just under 10%. This reliance on nuclear energy has contributed to France having one of the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity in the world, with 85 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour compared to the global average of 438 grams.
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Frequently asked questions
China is the world's largest producer of electricity, with over 9.4 petawatt-hours generated in 2023.
China generates electricity through coal, hydroelectricity, wind, and solar power.
The United States is the second-largest producer of electricity, with 4.2 to 4.5 petawatt-hours generated annually.
The US uses natural gas, coal, nuclear power, and renewable energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, and solar power.
Yes, India is the third-largest producer of electricity, with almost two petawatt-hours generated annually. Other large producers include Russia, Japan, and France.
