Infographic: Clean Electricity Around the World

Concerns over climate change is causing policymakers to reconsider the mix of energy sources used to generate electricity—specifically coal, oil, and natural gas, which together fuel 64 percent of global power. Non-carbon energy sources are getting a lot of attention, particularly wind and solar power. But not every renewable energy source is equally suited to a country.

According to data collected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, of the 25,398 TWh of electric power generation in 2018 (the most recent year where all countries reported), some 9,250 TWh were from non-carbon sources. The two largest energy sources were hydroelectricity and nuclear power, followed by wind, biomass, and solar. For the most part, the largest countries produced the most non-carbon electricity (and the most electricity overall) but Norway is notable for its hydroelectricity production and Italy uses solar power at a rate four times greater than the global average.