Energy mix

World energy mix, 1965 to 2020

The energy mix is a group of different primary energy sources from which secondary energy for direct use - such as electricity - is produced. Energy mix refers to all direct uses of energy, such as transportation and housing, and should not be confused with power generation mix, which refers only to generation of electricity, as electricity only accounts for 20 % of the world's final energy consumption.

Energy Mixes

World

Primary Energy Consumption, Primary Energy Mix and Power generation Mix in 2022
Energy Source Energy Consumption (TWh) Primary Energy Mix Electricity production (TWh) Power Generation Mix
Oil 52,969 29.6 % 904 3.15 %
Coal 44,854 25.1 % 10,212 35.6 %
Gas 39,413 22.0 % 6,444 22.5 %
Hydropower 11,300 6.32 % 4,289 15.0 %
Traditional biomass and biofuels 12,310 6.89 % 675 2.36 %
Nuclear 6,702 3.75 % 2,632 9.18 %
Wind 5,488 3.07 % 2,098 7.32 %
Solar 3,448 1.93 % 1,310 4.57 %
Other renewables 2,413 1.53 % 96.8 0.34 %
Total 178,897 100 % 28,661 100 %

Overall primary energy consumption in the United States in 2015 relied most on petroleum (35 quadrillion British thermal units (3.7×1016 kJ)), natural gas (29×10^15 BTU (3.1×1016 kJ)) and coal (16×10^15 BTU (1.7×1016 kJ)). Renewables contributed 9×10^15 BTU (9.5×1015 kJ) and nuclear power 8×10^15 BTU (8.4×1015 kJ). In the same year, about 4 million GWh of electricity were generated in the United States, 67% of which was generated from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and <1% petroleum), 20% from nuclear power, 6% hydropower and 7% other renewables.

In 2018, the global primary energy source was about 80% fossil fuels: (33.6% oil, 27.2% coal, 23.9% natural gas), 6.8% hydro, 4.4% nuclear, and 4% other renewables, such as wind, thermal, bioenergies, solar, and waste. Energy consumption worldwide rose 2.9%, which is the largest increase since 2010. Europe used less oil than the global percentage, and more nuclear and renewable resources, with France using less gas and more nuclear. North America had the highest consumption per resident, with Russia in second, and Europe and the Middle East following. While North America used 240 gigajoules per capita, Africa used only 15 gigajoules per capita.

Sustainability

As energy consumption rises, attention has turned to more environmentally sustainable practices. 2018 saw the largest increase in worldwide energy consumption since 2010, with 27.2% of that energy coming from coal. The carbon dioxide released when coal is burned to produce energy accounts for 44% of the world's carbon emissions. Petroleum use accounts for nearly 1/3 of the world's carbon emissions. These factors contribute to the global temperature increase.

Many countries, such as Pakistan and Malaysia have begun developing options for more sustainable energy practices. Some of these options include wind, for small to medium-sized projects; solar power; and biomass, which is energy produced from waste products such as rice husks, animal waste, and crop residue.

The IEA has developed a plan, called the Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS), which would lead to an 800 Mtoe decrease in global energy consumption by utilizing changes in the sectors of residential and transport energy. Following this scenario, fossil fuel usage would drop significantly, but it would require a dramatic increase of use of renewable resources, particularly in Asia.

See also



This page was last updated at 2024-02-24 17:35 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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