6.2 Global Energy Consumption
3 min read•january 6, 2023
Karla Jauregui Sandoval
Karla Jauregui Sandoval
Use of Energy
Like other resources, energy is dispersed and used differently per country and per individual. Since some energy use is non-renewable and other uses of it can be harmful to the environment if improperly regulated, questions arise:
Who uses the most energy?
What type of energy source is most common?
How is our energy being used?
Energy is not equally distributed amongst developing and developed nations. As countries develop, their total increases. As a country develops, each individual person needs more resources at a higher rate and one of those is energy. The for individuals in developed countries is higher than the average for individuals in developing countries.
For reference, the average American citizen has a of 19.8 tonnes 1 while an average Chinese citizen has an average of 4.6 tonnes of carbon emissions. A tonne is a metric unit used to measure mass. A tonne is equal to 1,000 kg.
According to the , grew by 2.3% due to the demand for electricity and gas in China. Because there is a higher demand for , global gas emissions have increased through the recent years.
Diagram Courtesy of US Energy Information Administration
This diagram is showing the global trend for .
China and the United States account for the increase in consumption, the abundance of supply, cheap prices and a higher energy demand allowed the US to be a top producer for .
Developing Nations
Developing nations' energy commonly comes from biomass, since access to other sources is few and far between. is energy that consumers need to pay for, such as , , and .
Since biomass is easy to access and costs to use it are low, is used to keep up demand. is gathered in local areas because it is more widely available. Wood or dung is used to create energy. Some countries that use biomass as energy include Brazil, remote locations in Africa, India and Kenya.
Global Energy Consumption
Trend: As the world becomes more industrialized, energy demand increases |
Diagram Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
is the number one producer of electricity in the world because of its affordability, abundance and accessibility.
comes second because of the large dams such as the Three Gorges Dams. Although there has been removal of dams, there has been a focus of creating innovative to capture energy from the movement of waves.
accounts for 10.7% of energy generation because there are top industrialized countries that have the money and resources to generate electricity. The United States, France and China are some of the largest producers. However, these resources are nonrenewable and could pose a problem for future generations given that usage is not moderated or somewhat modified.
This graph shows the US by sector in 2018.
The accounts for the largest percentage of because it takes more electricity to power factories. The sources of energy that are used for this sector are , , renewable sources, and .
The uses (gasoline) as the main source for energy. There has been a rise in the usage of such as and which are more environmentally friendly. Transportation such as cars and planes also use a lot of energy, and residential life like water supplies and heating/AC can increase one's . 🎥 Watch: Environmental Science
Key Terms to Review (20)
Biodiesel
: Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats that can be used in diesel engines either alone or blended with petroleum-based diesel fuel.Biofuels
: Biofuels are renewable energy sources derived from organic matter such as plants or animal waste. They can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels for powering vehicles or generating electricity.Biomass Energy
: Biomass energy refers to the use of organic materials, such as plants and animal waste, to generate heat or electricity. It is a renewable source of energy that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Carbon Footprint
: Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide) emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, or product throughout its lifecycle. It measures the impact of human activities on climate change.Coal
: Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock made up mostly of carbon. It forms from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago.Commercial Energy
: Commercial energy refers to the energy used by businesses and industries for various purposes such as manufacturing, transportation, and powering commercial buildings. It is distinct from residential or personal energy consumption.Energy Consumption
: Energy consumption refers to the amount of energy used by individuals, industries, or countries. It is a measure of how much energy is being utilized for various purposes such as heating, transportation, and electricity.Ethanol
: Ethanol is a type of alcohol that is produced from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, or switchgrass through fermentation. It is commonly used as a biofuel additive in gasoline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Fossil Fuels
: Fossil fuels are energy-rich substances formed from ancient organic matter buried deep within the Earth's crust. They include coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are burned to release energy but also release carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere.Global Energy Statistical Yearbook
: The Global Energy Statistical Yearbook is a comprehensive publication that provides data and statistics on global energy production, consumption, and trends. It offers valuable insights into the world's energy landscape and helps policymakers, researchers, and businesses make informed decisions.Hydropower
: Hydropower refers to the generation of electricity using the force of moving water, such as rivers or waterfalls. It harnesses the kinetic energy of flowing water to turn turbines and generate electricity.Industrial Sector
: The industrial sector refers to the part of the economy that involves manufacturing and producing goods on a large scale.Natural Gas
: Natural gas is a fossil fuel that consists mainly of methane. It is formed deep beneath the Earth's surface and is often found alongside oil deposits.Non-renewable energy
: Non-renewable energy refers to energy sources that cannot be replenished or regenerated within a human lifespan. These are finite resources that will eventually run out.Nuclear Power
: Nuclear power is generated through nuclear reactions where atomic nuclei are split (nuclear fission) or combined (nuclear fusion). The released heat is then used to produce steam which drives turbines for generating electricity.Petroleum
: Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a naturally occurring liquid mixture composed mainly of hydrocarbons. It forms over millions of years from the remains of marine organisms buried in sediments.Renewable energy
: Renewable energy refers to energy sources that can be replenished naturally within a human lifetime. These sources include solar power, wind power, hydropower, geothermal energy, and biomass.Three Gorges Dam
: The Three Gorges Dam is a massive hydroelectric dam located in China that spans the Yangtze River. It is the world's largest power station and provides clean energy by harnessing the force of flowing water.Tidal Technology
: Tidal technology involves harnessing the kinetic energy from ocean tides to generate electricity. It utilizes turbines placed underwater that are turned by tidal currents to produce renewable energy.Transportation Sector
: The transportation sector encompasses all forms of transportation, including cars, trains, planes, ships, and other vehicles used for moving people and goods from one place to another.6.2 Global Energy Consumption
3 min read•january 6, 2023
Karla Jauregui Sandoval
Karla Jauregui Sandoval
Use of Energy
Like other resources, energy is dispersed and used differently per country and per individual. Since some energy use is non-renewable and other uses of it can be harmful to the environment if improperly regulated, questions arise:
Who uses the most energy?
What type of energy source is most common?
How is our energy being used?
Energy is not equally distributed amongst developing and developed nations. As countries develop, their total increases. As a country develops, each individual person needs more resources at a higher rate and one of those is energy. The for individuals in developed countries is higher than the average for individuals in developing countries.
For reference, the average American citizen has a of 19.8 tonnes 1 while an average Chinese citizen has an average of 4.6 tonnes of carbon emissions. A tonne is a metric unit used to measure mass. A tonne is equal to 1,000 kg.
According to the , grew by 2.3% due to the demand for electricity and gas in China. Because there is a higher demand for , global gas emissions have increased through the recent years.
Diagram Courtesy of US Energy Information Administration
This diagram is showing the global trend for .
China and the United States account for the increase in consumption, the abundance of supply, cheap prices and a higher energy demand allowed the US to be a top producer for .
Developing Nations
Developing nations' energy commonly comes from biomass, since access to other sources is few and far between. is energy that consumers need to pay for, such as , , and .
Since biomass is easy to access and costs to use it are low, is used to keep up demand. is gathered in local areas because it is more widely available. Wood or dung is used to create energy. Some countries that use biomass as energy include Brazil, remote locations in Africa, India and Kenya.
Global Energy Consumption
Trend: As the world becomes more industrialized, energy demand increases |
Diagram Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
is the number one producer of electricity in the world because of its affordability, abundance and accessibility.
comes second because of the large dams such as the Three Gorges Dams. Although there has been removal of dams, there has been a focus of creating innovative to capture energy from the movement of waves.
accounts for 10.7% of energy generation because there are top industrialized countries that have the money and resources to generate electricity. The United States, France and China are some of the largest producers. However, these resources are nonrenewable and could pose a problem for future generations given that usage is not moderated or somewhat modified.
This graph shows the US by sector in 2018.
The accounts for the largest percentage of because it takes more electricity to power factories. The sources of energy that are used for this sector are , , renewable sources, and .
The uses (gasoline) as the main source for energy. There has been a rise in the usage of such as and which are more environmentally friendly. Transportation such as cars and planes also use a lot of energy, and residential life like water supplies and heating/AC can increase one's . 🎥 Watch: Environmental Science
Key Terms to Review (20)
Biodiesel
: Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats that can be used in diesel engines either alone or blended with petroleum-based diesel fuel.Biofuels
: Biofuels are renewable energy sources derived from organic matter such as plants or animal waste. They can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels for powering vehicles or generating electricity.Biomass Energy
: Biomass energy refers to the use of organic materials, such as plants and animal waste, to generate heat or electricity. It is a renewable source of energy that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Carbon Footprint
: Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide) emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, or product throughout its lifecycle. It measures the impact of human activities on climate change.Coal
: Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock made up mostly of carbon. It forms from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago.Commercial Energy
: Commercial energy refers to the energy used by businesses and industries for various purposes such as manufacturing, transportation, and powering commercial buildings. It is distinct from residential or personal energy consumption.Energy Consumption
: Energy consumption refers to the amount of energy used by individuals, industries, or countries. It is a measure of how much energy is being utilized for various purposes such as heating, transportation, and electricity.Ethanol
: Ethanol is a type of alcohol that is produced from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, or switchgrass through fermentation. It is commonly used as a biofuel additive in gasoline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Fossil Fuels
: Fossil fuels are energy-rich substances formed from ancient organic matter buried deep within the Earth's crust. They include coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are burned to release energy but also release carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere.Global Energy Statistical Yearbook
: The Global Energy Statistical Yearbook is a comprehensive publication that provides data and statistics on global energy production, consumption, and trends. It offers valuable insights into the world's energy landscape and helps policymakers, researchers, and businesses make informed decisions.Hydropower
: Hydropower refers to the generation of electricity using the force of moving water, such as rivers or waterfalls. It harnesses the kinetic energy of flowing water to turn turbines and generate electricity.Industrial Sector
: The industrial sector refers to the part of the economy that involves manufacturing and producing goods on a large scale.Natural Gas
: Natural gas is a fossil fuel that consists mainly of methane. It is formed deep beneath the Earth's surface and is often found alongside oil deposits.Non-renewable energy
: Non-renewable energy refers to energy sources that cannot be replenished or regenerated within a human lifespan. These are finite resources that will eventually run out.Nuclear Power
: Nuclear power is generated through nuclear reactions where atomic nuclei are split (nuclear fission) or combined (nuclear fusion). The released heat is then used to produce steam which drives turbines for generating electricity.Petroleum
: Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a naturally occurring liquid mixture composed mainly of hydrocarbons. It forms over millions of years from the remains of marine organisms buried in sediments.Renewable energy
: Renewable energy refers to energy sources that can be replenished naturally within a human lifetime. These sources include solar power, wind power, hydropower, geothermal energy, and biomass.Three Gorges Dam
: The Three Gorges Dam is a massive hydroelectric dam located in China that spans the Yangtze River. It is the world's largest power station and provides clean energy by harnessing the force of flowing water.Tidal Technology
: Tidal technology involves harnessing the kinetic energy from ocean tides to generate electricity. It utilizes turbines placed underwater that are turned by tidal currents to produce renewable energy.Transportation Sector
: The transportation sector encompasses all forms of transportation, including cars, trains, planes, ships, and other vehicles used for moving people and goods from one place to another.
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