Production
The production of electricity in 2009 was 20,053TWh, which was 11% of the solar energy the earth receives in one hour (174,000TWh). Sources of electricity were fossil fuels 67%, renewable energy 16% (mainly hydroelectric, wind, solar and biomass), and nuclear power 13%, and other sources were 3%. The majority of fossil fuel usage for the generation of electricity was coal and gas. Oil was 5.5%, as it is the most expensive common commodity used to produce electrical energy. Ninety-two percent of renewable energy was hydroelectric followed by wind at 6% and geothermal at 1.8%. Solar photovoltaic was 0.06%, and solar thermal was 0.004%. Data are from OECD 2011-12 Factbook (2009 data)
| - | Coal | Oil | Natural Gas |
Nuclear | Hydro | other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average electric power (TWh/year) | 8,263 | 1,111 | 4,301 | 2,731 | 3,288 | 568 | 20,261 |
| Average electric power (GW) | 942.6 | 126.7 | 490.7 | 311.6 | 375.1 | 64.8 | 2311.4 |
| Proportion | 41% | 5% | 21% | 13% | 16% | 3% | 100% |
Total energy consumed at all power plants for the generation of electricity was 4,398,768 ktoe (kilo ton of oil equivalent) which was 36% of the total for primary energy sources (TPES) of 2008.
Electricity output (gross) was 1,735,579 ktoe (20,185 TWh), efficiency was 39%, and the balance of 61% was generated heat. A small part(145,141 ktoe, which was 3% of the input total) of the heat was utilized at co-generation heat and power plants. The in-house consumption of electricity and power transmission losses were 289,681 ktoe.
The amount supplied to the final consumer was 1,445,285 ktoe (16,430 TWh) which was 33% of the total energy consumed at power plants and heat and power co-generation (CHP) plants.
Read more about this topic: Electricity Generation
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—Karl Marx (1818–1883)