Karandikars & Associates

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 "Necessitities 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 capita

Installed Capacities

Electricity Installed Capacity in GW (All Sources)
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 Generation TWh
Coal Based Generation TWh
Natural Gas Based Generation TW
Oil Based Generation TWh
Nuclear Generation TWh
Hydro Based Generation TWh
Non Hydro Renewable Generation TWh
Solar Generation TWh
Wind Generation TWh
Bio Mass Based Geneartion TWh
Pumped Hydro Generation TWh

T and D Losses pct of Output
Electricity fm Coal pct of Total
Electricity fm Hydro pct of Total
Electricity fm Gas pct of Total
Electricity fm Nuclear pct of Total
Electricity fm Oil pct of Total
Electricity fm Fossil pct of Total
Electricity fm RES pct of Total