Source of electricity

What are the main sources of electricity?

The line chart shows each source's share of the total and gives a better perspective on how each changes over time. Globally, coal, followed by gas, is the largest source of electricity production. Of the low-carbon sources, hydropower and nuclear make the largest contribution; although wind and solar are growing quickly.

What are the different types of primary energy sources?

Primary energy sources take many forms, including nuclear energy, fossil energy -- like oil, coal and natural gas -- and renewable sources like wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower.

Which energy source generates the most electricity in 2023?

Natural gas was the top source—about 43%—of U.S. utility-scale electricity generation in 2023. Natural gas is used in steam turbines and gas turbines to generate electricity. Coal was the fourth-highest energy source—about 16%—of U.S. electricity generation in 2023. Nearly all coal-fired power plants use steam turbines.

What percentage of electricity is generated from renewable sources?

In 1990, renewable resources provided about 12% of utility-scale electricity generation. Wind energy was the source of about 10% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation and accounted for 48% of the electricity generation from renewable sources in 2023. Wind turbines convert wind energy into electricity.

What are the three components of electricity?

Electricity is one of three components that make up total energy production. The other two are transport and heating. As we see in more detail in this article, the breakdown of sources — coal, oil, gas, nuclear, and renewables — is different in electricity versus the energy mix.

How much of our electricity comes from low-carbon sources?

Globally, more than a third of our electricity comes from low-carbon sources. However, the majority is still generated from fossil fuels, predominantly coal and gas. This is more than double the share in the total energy mix, where nuclear and renewables account for only about one-fifth.