Energy Supplied
Many studies have documented how nuclear power plants generate 16% of global electricity, but provide only 6.3% of energy production and 2.6% of final energy consumption. This mismatch stems mainly from the poor consumption efficiency of electricity compared to other energy carriers, and the transmission losses associated with nuclear plants which are usually situated far away from sources of demand.
However The transmission losses associated with Nuclear plants, or indeed Hydroelectric plants, which are also usually situated far away from the sources of demand, are not high, as they use HVDC cables which have losses of just 3% over 1000 km. Similarly Nuclear power is not alone in appearing small when representing World energy consumption which includes non-electric fossil fuel heating and transport fuel, which Coal and Oil dominate. In 2008 world energy supply by power source was - oil 33.5%, coal 26.8%, gas 20.8% (fossil 81%), 'Other'(Geothermal power, peat, biofuels, solar, wind, etc.) 10.4%, nuclear 5.8% and Hydro 2.3%. Oil was the most popular energy fuel. Oil and coal combined represented over 60% of the world energy supply in 2008.
Read more about this topic: Nuclear Power Debate
Famous quotes containing the words energy and/or supplied:
“The persons who constitute the natural aristocracy, are not found in the actual aristocracy, or, only on its edge; as the chemical energy of the spectrum is found to be greatest just outside of the spectrum.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Some desire is necessary to keep life in motion, and he whose real wants are supplied must admit those of fancy.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)