Helena Joyce
Electricity generation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, with the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas being the largest contributor. The environmental effects of electricity generation depend on the sources of generation available in a particular area. While electricity generation from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and nuclear power produces little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants, the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation has been a major cause of concern due to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful emissions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of electricity from renewable sources | 29% |
| Examples of renewable sources | Wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, biomass, wave and tidal |
| Percentage of electricity from low-carbon sources | Over 1/3 |
| Most common source of electricity globally | Coal |
| Second most common source of electricity globally | Gas |
| Region with the highest contribution from renewables | Southern & Central America (72%) |
| Nuclear power's share of electricity production | 9% |
| Country with the highest share of electricity from nuclear power | France (75%) |
| CO2 emissions from nuclear power per kWh of electricity | 12g |
| CO2 emissions from wind power per kWh of electricity | 12g |
| CO2 emissions from solar power per kWh of electricity | 36g |
| Global electricity generation in 2023 | 29,925 TWh |
| Increase in electricity generation from 2022 to 2023 | 2.5% |
| Number of people without access to electricity | 750 million |
| Number of people relying on heavily polluting biomass fuels | 2.6 billion |
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What You'll Learn
Nuclear power
Nuclear energy has played a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electric power sector. In the United States, greenhouse gas emissions from electric power production have decreased by about 15% since 1990 due to a shift towards lower- and non-emitting sources, with the electric power sector being the most readily decarbonized. Nuclear power's life-cycle emissions are comparable to those of wind energy and significantly lower than those of solar energy. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), nuclear power emits an estimated median of 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh of electricity produced, which is similar to wind power and cleaner than all types of solar power.
In 2023, fourteen countries generated at least one-quarter of their electricity from nuclear power. France is notably the most reliant on nuclear energy, with around 70% of its electricity derived from nuclear sources. Other countries like Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary obtain about half of their electricity from nuclear power. Japan, which previously relied on nuclear power for more than a quarter of its electricity, is expected to return to similar levels of nuclear energy dependence.
Looking ahead, the OECD International Energy Agency's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE) projects a significant increase in nuclear capacity, targeting 1017 GWe by 2050. This scenario aims to achieve a 1.5°C stabilization in the rise in global average temperatures, alongside universal access to modern energy by 2030.
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Solar energy
Solar panels are made up of solar cells, which turn sunlight into electricity. The amount of electricity produced by a solar panel can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of solar cell, the size of the panel, and the amount of sunlight available. The most efficient residential solar panels can convert 24% of the sun's power into electricity. On average, a solar panel will generate about 2 kWh of energy per day, and most homeowners install between 15 and 19 panels to cover their electricity needs. A 6 kW solar installation will generate 915 kWh of electricity per month, which could save the average American homeowner around $140 a month.
In the United States, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that there was an additional 73.62 billion kWh of electricity generation from small-scale solar photovoltaic systems in 2023. This is a significant increase in solar energy production compared to previous years.
Overall, solar energy is an important source of non-polluting electricity generation, and its use is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
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Wind energy
Wind turbines typically start generating electricity when wind speeds reach six to nine miles per hour (mph) and shut down at roughly 55 mph to prevent equipment damage. They can generate usable amounts of electricity over 90% of the time. Wind energy is highly variable, depending on the timescale, and can be affected by hourly, daily, or seasonal changes. This variability can present challenges when incorporating large amounts of wind power into a grid system, as instantaneous electrical generation and consumption must remain balanced to maintain stability.
Wind power offers significant advantages in terms of environmental impact and emissions reduction. It has some of the lowest life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions among energy sources and does not emit local air pollution, unlike fossil fuel power sources. Wind power consumes no fuel, and the use of engineered wood may even enable carbon-negative wind power.
To meet the Paris Agreement goals for limiting climate change, analysts advocate for a faster expansion of wind energy. Efforts should focus on facilitating permitting, gaining public support, identifying suitable sites, reducing costs, and shortening project development timelines. According to the IEA, annual wind capacity additions until 2030 need to increase significantly to align with the Net Zero pathway. China, the United States, and the European Union have all set ambitious targets and implemented policies to drive wind power investment and deployment.
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Hydropower
In 2022, hydropower accounted for more than 50% of renewable electricity production globally and about 15% of total electricity generation from all sources. In the US, hydropower accounts for 27% of total utility-scale renewable electricity generation and 5.86% of total utility-scale electricity generation. All but two states in the US (Delaware and Mississippi) use hydropower for electricity, with Washington state generating about 60% of its electricity from hydropower in 2023.
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Geothermal power
The development of binary cycle power plants, which operate on water at lower temperatures of about 225-360°F (107-182°C), and improvements in drilling and extraction technology may enable enhanced geothermal systems over a much wider geographical range. Binary cycle power plants use the heat from hot water to boil a working fluid, which is usually an organic compound with a low boiling point. This working fluid is then vaporized in a heat exchanger and used to turn a turbine, and the water is injected back into the ground to be reheated. This technology was first demonstrated in 1967 in the Soviet Union and later introduced to the United States in 1981.
The first successful geothermal electric power station in the United States began operation in 1960 at The Geysers in California. However, the world's first commercial geothermal power station was built in Larderello, Italy, in 1911. Italy was the world's only industrial producer of geothermal electricity until 1958, when New Zealand became the second major producer with its Wairakei station, the first to use flash steam technology.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2022, about 35% of the world's electricity came from burning coal, a major source of air pollution. The remaining 65% is presumably produced from non-polluting sources, including nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar energy.
Examples of non-polluting sources of electricity include solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal power. Nuclear power is also considered a non-polluting source, as it does not produce greenhouse gases or air pollutants.
Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, gas, and biomass to generate electricity results in the emission of harmful pollutants, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and mercury. These emissions contribute to climate change and have adverse effects on lung health, especially for those living near power plants.
Transitioning to non-polluting sources of electricity, such as renewable energy, can bring environmental, climate, and human health benefits. It can reduce air pollution, improve lung health, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Additionally, sources like hydropower have low operating costs once the infrastructure is in place.
