Global Electricity
The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered in the 1820s and early 1830s by British scientist Michael Faraday, and this method, the electromagnetic induction, is still used today
In a power plant, the turbine and generator convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. First the fuel produces steam, gas, or fluid that moves the blades of a turbine, so it revolves fast—more than 3,000 times a minute. The spinning turbine is connected to the rod in a generator that turns a large magnet surrounded by coils of copper wire. The fast-revolving generator magnet causes electrons around the copper coils to move. The movement of these electrons through a wire is electricity
Central power stations became economically practical with the development of alternating current (AC) power transmission, using power transformers to transmit power at high voltage and with low loss
In its review of top engineering achievements of the 20th century in the United States, the National Academy of Engineering listed electrification as the top achievement, outranking other achievements such as the automobile, the Internet, and even space travel
This listing clearly underscores the importance of electricity in everyday life
Electricity demand is strongly correlated to economic growth, although the extent of the linkage depends on the level of economic development of each country, the structure of the economy and the extent of access to electricity
The amount of electricity needed for each unit of value added in the economy is generally very different between the industrial and the services sectors (By a factor of as high as three), being highest for heavy industries
Structurally changing electricity fuel mix
Till 1960, the electricity fuel mix was dominated by coal and hydropower, with oil and natural gas beginning to gain market share. Low oil prices in the 1960s encouraged the shift from coal to oil for electricity production in many regions, and global share of oil in electricity generation had reached 23% by early 1970s
The fuel mix for electricity generation has been structurally changing since the oil shocks of 1970s
When oil prices jumped four fold in the early 1970s, the major energy importing economies of the world started looking for alternatives to oil in their energy basket, in particular, in the electricity generation or the stationary use
Nuclear electricity generation got a major boost during the subsequent three decades
The LNG export projects in gas rich Southeast Asia were developed with a principle objective of using gas in electricity generation in major energy importing Northeast Asian countries as a replacement to oil from Middle East
Non-Hydro Renewables, largely comprising Solar and Wind, but also including biomass, geothermal, etc. are often described as "Dreams of the 1970s", "Realities but Luxuries of 2000s" and "Necessities of 2020 and thereafter". Non-Hydro Renewables have already gained prominence, and expected to continue their penetration in the electricity generation mix
Current fuel mix in electricity generation is: Coal ~34%, Natural Gas ~22%, Oil/Other fossil fuels ~3%, for a total fossil fuel contribution of ~59%. Amongst low-carbon sources, Hydropower ~14%, Nuclear ~9%, Wind ~8%, Solar ~7% and other renewables ~3%, for a total low-carbon sources of ~41%
The above mix pertains to generation. Given the intrinsic low Capacity Utilisation Factors (CUFs), share of non-hydro renewables is even higher in installed capacity mix
By 2050, the share of non-hydro renewables in electricity generation is projected to be very high globally, with estimates ranging from ~70% to 85% and even more
Explore Global Electricity Indicators
Electricity Consumption KWh per capitaInstalled Capacities
Electricity Installed Capacity in GW (All Sources)Fossil Fuels based Installed Capacity (GW)
Nuclear Installed Capacity (GW)
Hydro Installed Capacity (GW)
Solar Installed Capacity (GW)
Wind Installed Capacity (GW)
Pumped Hydro Installed Capacity (GW)
Biomass Based Installed Capacity (GW)
Electricity Generation
Total Generation (TWh)All Fossil Fuels Based Generation (TWh)
Coal Based Generation (TWh)
Natural Gas Based Generation (TWh)
Oil Based Generation (TWh)
Nuclear Based Generation (TWh)
Hydro Based Generation (TWh)
Non Hydro Renewables Based Generation (TWh)
Solar Generation (TWh)
Wind Generation (TWh)
Biomass Based Generation (TWh)
Pumped Hydro Based Generation (TWh)
T and D Losses (pct of Output)
Electricity from Coal (pct of Total)
Electricity from Hydro (pct of Total)
Electricity from Gas (pct of Total)
Electricity from Nuclear (pct of Total)
Electricity from Oil (pct of Total)
Electricity from Fossil Fuels (pct of Total)
Electricity from RES (pct of Total)