Explore the world’s hydropower plants in 2022

Hydropower contributes 17% of global electricity, surpassing nuclear, wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal combined. Hydropower was one of the first technologies to generate grid-scale electricity beginning in the late 19th century. Many major rivers in the United States and Europe have well-developed hydropower capacity with modest potential for major expansion. But in China, India, and parts of Africa and South America, many new projects are in the proposed and construction phases as governments seek to meet the growing demand for electricity while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

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What are the connections among fuel poverty, time poverty, and gender equity?

Access to clean cooking fuels is crucial for gender equity and poverty alleviation. Currently, billions of people lack safe and affordable energy sources for cooking. Women and girls bear a disproportionate burden in collecting and processing polluting fuels, affecting their well-being and opportunities. Clean cooking energy reduces cooking time, allowing women to engage in other activities like childcare, work, and household chores.

What is the ‘diesel discount’ and does it matter?

Road transport relies heavily on gasoline and diesel, influenced by government policies that often favor diesel for its efficiency. However, diesel produces more pollution, and the tax revenues it generates complicate change. The debate now centers on speeding up the transition to electric transportation to combat greenhouse gas emissions while balancing historical preferences with environmental concerns.

How does public finance support energy?

The global energy system encompasses diverse infrastructure requiring extensive investment, with USD 2.8 trillion spent in 2023. Public finance significantly supports energy projects, where fossil fuels received 56% of funding from 2013 to 2022. Clean energy finance increased until 2021, highlighting varying regional priorities and the dominance of large projects in funding distribution.

Where are people most exposed to particulate matter?

Airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) comprises tiny particles that pose significant health risks, including heart disease and lung cancer. Major sources include natural events and human activities, with notable geographic variations. Reductions in PM2.5 levels have been observed in affluent regions, but exposure remains high in countries like China and India, impacting public health.

What renewable fuels have the largest climate benefit?

Approximately 91% of transportation energy globally comes from petroleum fuels, creating 29% of US and 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Biofuels offer potential emission reductions but raise land use concerns. Ethanol's carbon emissions have decreased, and ongoing research aims to further reduce them. Government support and investments are driving biofuel expansion.

What is nuclear power uprating and why is it important?

Nuclear power in the US has steadily contributed 19% of electricity since 1990, mainly through uprates. These uprates, approved by the NRC, have boosted capacity by 24,080 MWt or 8030 MWe, equivalent to over 7 new plant units. Most uprates range from 0-5%.

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Visualizing Energy communicates facts on the link between sustainable energy and human well-being to decision-makers, media, companies, advocates, educators, and the public.

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We knit data analysis, visualizations, and the written word into stories that reveal how our energy system can be transformed to reduce inequity, steer humanity from climate disaster, improve health and other social outcomes, and lead to healthier natural systems. We address the energy system itself (sources, conversion, end use), economics (prices, investment, market failures), social outcomes (well-being, energy poverty, and climate justice), and environmental change (climate, pollution, and land and water use).

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The internet is awash in information about energy, climate change, and health impacts of pollution. But society is deficient in a shared understanding of how our energy system must change. One reason for that is that information is siloed by technology, policy, and disciplines. We use the unique role of energy in human affairs and natural systems as the unifying principle behind compelling, data-driven stories that point to solutions that are feasible, affordable, and equitable. We are interdisciplinary and collaborative, working with diverse teams and perspectives that span the broad energy landscape.

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Visualizing Energy aims to accelerate a sustainable energy transition by deploying a more equitable system of knowledge. To that end, all the data, visualizations, and original text are freely available to all users. We license all our content under the Creative Commons BY license. Users have permission to use, distribute, and reproduce the data, visualizations, and articles provided the source and authors are credited.

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We heavily rely on data that someone else produced. All the data in Visualizing Energy is attributed to its original source so that the user can independently judge its accuracy and reliability. We describe all major modifications that we make to data.

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