Energy
Energy
Energy used today in the world
354,474,927
- from non-renewable sources:
301,749,074
- from renewable sources:
53,380,000
Non-renewable sources:
There are 1.65 trillion barrels of proven oil reserves in the world as of 2016. The world has proven reserves equivalent to 46.6 times its annual consumption levels. This means it has about 47 years of oil left (at current consumption levels and excluding unproven reserves).
There are 6,923 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves in the world as of 2017. The world has proven reserves equivalent to 52.3 times its annual consumption. This means it has about 52 years of gas left (at current consumption levels and excluding unproven reserves).
There are 1,139,471 tons (short tons, st) of proven coal reserves in the world as of 2016.
The world has proven reserves equivalent to 133.1 times its annual consumption. This means it has about 133 years of coal left (at current consumption levels and excluding unproven reserves).
Renewable sources:
Solar - 2023: 1,419 GW
Wind - 2023: 1,021 GW
Geothermal - 2023: 14.9 GW
Hydro - 2023: 1,416 GW
Biofuels - 28 billion gallons of biofuel
Helium 3 - Moon: 1 million metric tons
Renewable energy sources – which are available in abundance all around us, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 percent of the world’s electricity can and should come from renewable energy by 2050. Renewable energy actually is the cheapest power option in most parts of the world today. Prices for renewable energy technologies are dropping rapidly. The cost of electricity from solar power fell by 85 percent between 2010 and 2020. Costs of onshore and offshore wind energy fell by 56 percent and 48 percent respectively.
Renewable sources produce enough energy to power millions of homes. Global renewable energy capacity hit 50% growth in 2023, its fastest growth rate for twenty years. Albania, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Iceland, Nepal, Paraguay and the Democratic Republic of Congo generate more than 99.7% of their electricity needs from geothermal, hydro-electricity, solar or wind power. We have more battery storage capability than ever before. A clean energy future is good news for our climate.
World energy: Global primary energy consumption reached a new record of 620 exajoules (EJ) for the second consecutive year in 2023, up from 607 exajoules in 2022. Despite efforts to decarbonize the economy, fossil fuels still accounted for over 80% of the global energy mix in 2023. Reduce fossil fuels and decarbonize with renewables: Britain used offshore wind to get off coal, US electrify grid for vehicles to get off oil, Solar and batteries for off peak hours to get off gas. Renewables like solar and wind accounted for 8% of the energy generated in 2023, followed by hydroelectric (6%) and nuclear (4%). The amount of renewable energy capacity added to energy systems around the world grew by 50% in 2023, reaching almost 510 gigawatts (GW), with solar PV accounting for three-quarters of additions worldwide. Nearly 50 countries now generate more than 50 per cent of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Seven countries now generate 100% of their electricity from renewable energy. Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo produced more than 99.7 per cent of the electricity they consumed using geothermal, hydro, solar or wind power. An estimated 507 gigawatts of renewable electricity were added to grids around the world in 2023 — a new record. Right now, the world is on track to reach about 7,300 gigawatts — or 7.3 terawatts — of total renewable capacity by 2028, a 75 percent increase over the cumulative 4.1 terawatts in 2023. And yet, despite this astounding growth, that would still fall short of the goal set at
A high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission system uses direct current (DC) for electric power transmission, in contrast with the more common alternating current (AC) transmission systems.
HVDC lines are commonly used for long-distance power transmission, since they require fewer conductors and incur less power loss than equivalent AC lines. Many of these HVDC lines transfer power from renewable sources such as hydro and wind.