Which Power Source Has Been Least Consumed

Energy Business Review lists the world’s most used free energy sources based on the share of each source to global energy consumption in the by five decades according to BP’s estimates.

Oil has been historically the globe’southward most used energy source accounting for approximately 39% of the global energy consumption. Photo: courtesy of ArionEstar.

Oil – 39%

Bookkeeping for approximately 39% of the global energy consumption, oil has historically been the earth’s nearly used free energy source. Despite a decline over the past 2 decades, the demand for oil has remained high principally due to demand from emerging economies, especially non-OECD countries.

Oil consumption in 2014 grew past 0.eight% over 2013, marking the highest growth amid all fossil fuel types. The The states has been the biggest oil consumer for the by two decades followed by Red china, which has been consuming increasingly more oil, especially gasoline. Demand for middle distillates has been sluggish in the recent years due to weaker diesel demand caused past poor economic growth, whereas light distillates demand is on the rise.

Coal – 28%

Coal has also been one of the fastest growing fossil fuels owing to Mainland china’due south rapid industrialisation. Coal consumption in the terminal ten years has grown at 2.ix% on an average, only its share in global energy consumption has been on the decline although last year was an exception with 0.4% rise.

The fall in coal consumption is attributed to a need shift in China, which has been the leading coal consumer. Coal usage in Communist china is being replaced by more favourable fuels, while its value in the power sector has been down every bit a result of strong growth in hydropower installations. Republic of india recorded the earth’s biggest volumetric increment of 11.one% in coal consumption (360.2Mtoe) in 2014.

Gas consumption grew at an boilerplate rate of 2.iv% in the final ten years. Photo: courtesy of Rickz.

Gas – 22%

Gas consumption grew at an boilerplate rate of two.four% in the terminal ten years. Demand for gas is primarily linked to temperature variations and, in recent years, its consumption has been afflicted by weak demand in Europe due to balmy winters.

Gas has also lost its share in the ability sector where fossil fuels are yet the preferred option. Europe recorded its biggest volumetric and percentage decline of 11.half-dozen% in gas consumption in 2014. The continent, nonetheless, nonetheless continues to be the leading natural gas consumer followed by Northward America since the past decade.

Hydroelectricity – half-dozen%

Hydroelectricity is a fast growing free energy source with a global share of more than 6%, while its ten-year average growth charge per unit is 3.three%. Hydroelectricity consumption has been steadily on the ascension with Asia Pacific accounting for a major share. Consumption in China, which is home to the earth’s biggest hydropower plant, the Iii Gorges Dam, grew by 15.7% twelvemonth-on-year in 2014.

The upward trend witnessed in the hydroelectric power consumption is a result of a number of factors including its relatively low cost per unit.

Nuclear free energy output and consumption are still in the recovery phase afterward the Fukushima incident. Photo: courtesy Wizkid.

Nuclear energy – iv.4%

Nuclear energy consumption has grown over the past couple of years and has recently crossed its ten-year boilerplate almanac decline of 0.eight%. Nuclear energy output and consumption are yet in the recovery phase afterward the Fukushima incident, with production nevertheless being 10% beneath the 2006 peak. For the first time since 2009, nuclear energy seems to be gaining its global market place share with a growth of 1.viii% being registered in 2014.

The United states of america has been the leading nuclear free energy consumer for the by 2 decades, followed by French republic. Japan recently witnessed a complete halt in its nuclear power generation and consumption as its last operating reactor was shut downwards in 2013. The Sendai Nuclear Ability Plant that was brought dorsum online in August 2015 is Japan’southward simply operating nuclear power establish.

Current of air – 0.22%

Current of air, which contributes approximately 3% to the global electricity generation, has witnessed a double digit growth in consumption, growing at a compounded almanac growth rate of 23.5% in the recent decade. Wind usage last year, however, grew at a below-boilerplate charge per unit of 10.two% compared to 10-twelvemonth average, due to reduced public policy back up in Europe and the U.s..

Federal republic of germany was the leading consumer of current of air energy until 2007 when it was overtaken by the U.s.a. every bit the world’s biggest current of air power producer likewise as consumer. Wind is as well becoming increasingly pop in Asian countries with Asia Pacific overtaking European and Eurasian countries in gross installed capacity for the first fourth dimension in 2014. Challenges to the growth of wind usage as an energy source are principally from the depression utilisation factor and the need for college government support.

Geothermal energy is used significantly in certain countries including the US, Kenya, Iceland, El Salvador and New Zealand. Photo: courtesy Asgegg.

Geothermal, biomass & waste – 0.4%

Total consumption of geothermal, biomass and waste in the last five decades was more than i.vi billion tonne of oil equivalent making them a growing segment of renewable energy. Geothermal is well-established and relatively more mature amid the three sources.

Geothermal energy is used significantly in countries including the Usa, Kenya, Iceland, El Salvador and New Zealand. Its overall share in global power generation is, however, very depression at 0.3% as it is concentrated in a few places. The US has been the leading consumer of geothermal power for the past few decades.

Solar – 0.03%

Solar power has been fast gaining ground as a preferred energy source, with installed capacities having more than quadrupled in the past four years. Solar energy’s share in global power generation has doubled in recent years and currently stands at approximately 0.8%.

Solar contributed approximately 15% to the growth of global power in 2014. Germany has been the leader in solar ability usage since 2005, while Asia Pacific has also been recording potent growth owing to developments in Cathay and Japan.