World Electrical Power
- Overview

The population of the world continues to grow, as does the average standard of living, increasing demand for food, water and energy and placing increasing pressure on the environment. The population of the world doubled from 3.2 billion in 1962 to 6.4 billion in 2005 and is forecast to grow to 9.2 billion in 2050.

Supplies of oil, gas, coal and uranium are forecast to peak as reserves are depleted. At the same time, fear of climate change is putting pressure on the energy sector to move away from carbon burning to nuclear, solar and other environmentally friendly energy sources.

According to the 2012 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Africa had 2011 electricity production of 657.14 Terawatt-hours, a change of -0.3% from 2010 and equivalent to 2.98% of the world total.

In 2004, 18% of world electricity came from hydro and 16% from nuclear. In 2006, according to the IEA, the main sources of electricity worldwide were coal (39.8%), gas (19.6%), hydro (16.1%), nuclear (15.7%), oil (6.7%) and other renewables (1.8%). The contribution of coal is growing at a rapid rate compared to all the others. There is renewed interest in nuclear but hydro is stagnant. As of March 2007, Africa was using 5% of its hydro potential compared to Asia (40%) and Europe (80%).

According to the 2007 BP Statistical Energy Survey, world 2006 hydro power generation was 3,040 terawatt-hours. The countries with the largest hydroelectric generation were, in order, China, Canada, Brazil, the USA, Russia, Norway, India and Japan.

According to the 2007 BP Statistical Energy Survey, world 2006 nuclear power generation was 2,808 TWh. The countries with the largest nuclear generating capacity were, in order, the USA, France, Germany, Russia, South Korea, Canada, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain and China.

In March 2007, the EC estimated the cost per MWh for solar (Euro 150 to 450), wind (50 to 180), hydro (30 to 90), biomass (30 to 80), natural gas (40 to 70), oil (60), coal (45 to 55) and nuclear (45). An MIT study showed the 2002 cost of nuclear power to be US$ 0.067 per KWh versus US$ 0.042 for coal.

As of 2006, the price of electricity was lowest in South Africa, followed by Australia, Norway, South Korea, Taiwan and the USA.

According to the EC, the kg CO2 equivalent per MWh is solar (100), wind (10 to 30), hydro (5 to 20), biomass (30), natural gas (400 to 440), oil (550), coal (750 to 800) and nuclear (15). According to BE, nuclear and wind both create 5 gram of carbon dioxide per KW generated compared to 400 gram for gas and 900 gram for coal.

Related pages: World | Energy | Oil | Gas | Coal | Renewables | Biofuels | Solar | Wind | Uranium | Nuclear