Dams serve various purposes such as navigation improvement, flood control, and electricity generation. There are over 40,000 dams worldwide, with significant hydroelectric capacity. The environmental impact of these large projects, including disturbance of ecosystems and displacement of communities, must be carefully assessed and balanced with their low-cost and low-carbon benefits.
In recent years, 15 to 20% of global coal consumption came from traded coal. The import and export of coal rely on specialized infrastructure known as coal terminals, located near mines or strategic coastal areas. These facilities facilitate the efficient transportation of coal between various modes like ships, trains, and trucks.
The coal power plant industry’s state is reflected in cancellations and shelved projects, concentrated in Asia (e.g., China, India). China’s paradoxical coal investment includes building new capacity and decommissioning old plants due to renewable energy growth. In the U.S., 23% of coal capacity will retire by 2029 due to competition from natural gas and renewables.
The United States has played a significant role in global oil production, contributing 17% since 1900, with Texas being a major player, accounting for one-third of the nation’s oil production. Technological advancements like hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling led to record U.S. oil production in the 2010s, making the country the world’s largest oil producer and a net oil exporter.
Waste-to-energy (WTE) plants in the US burn municipal solid waste to generate electricity, contributing less than one percent of the total. Initially developed due to landfill space scarcity, the renewable classification is disputed due to non-biogenic waste. Few new facilities have been built since the 1990s due to opposition, high costs, and increased focus on recycling and waste reduction.
Electricity plays a crucial role in modern society, constituting 21% of energy use in the EU in 2022 and expected to grow due to initiatives in transportation and heating. The 220 largest electricity companies globally represent about 3% of the total market cap of publicly traded companies. This industry is highly concentrated, with just five companies holding 20% of the market cap.
Hydropower, a pioneer in grid-scale electricity generation since the late 19th century, now provides 17% of global electricity, surpassing nuclear, wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal combined. While the US and Europe have well-established capacity with limited room for expansion, China, India, Africa, and South America are developing new projects to meet rising electricity demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Oil and natural gas make up 55% of global energy use, with the top 350 companies holding a combined market cap of $7.2 trillion, comprising 7% of the world’s largest companies. State-owned enterprises control 90% of the world’s crude oil reserves. Just 8 companies hold 50% of the market cap.
Approximately 4934 trillion cubic feet of gas have been produced globally since 1900, with the United States contributing around 30%. Texas and Louisiana account for over half of US natural gas production. The introduction of fracking led to a significant increase in production, making the US a major exporter.
Hydropower plants utilize different technologies to generate electricity. Impoundment facilities use a dam to create a reservoir, releasing water through turbines. Run-of-river plants channel river water to generate power while pumped storage hydropower stores energy by moving water between reservoirs of different elevations. Each technology has its advantages and impacts on the environment and infrastructure.
Dams serve various purposes such as navigation improvement, flood control, and electricity generation. There are over 40,000 dams worldwide, with significant hydroelectric capacity. The environmental impact of these large projects, including disturbance of ecosystems and displacement of communities, must be carefully assessed and balanced with their low-cost and low-carbon benefits.
In recent years, 15 to 20% of global coal consumption came from traded coal. The import and export of coal rely on specialized infrastructure known as coal terminals, located near mines or strategic coastal areas. These facilities facilitate the efficient transportation of coal between various modes like ships, trains, and trucks.
The coal power plant industry’s state is reflected in cancellations and shelved projects, concentrated in Asia (e.g., China, India). China’s paradoxical coal investment includes building new capacity and decommissioning old plants due to renewable energy growth. In the U.S., 23% of coal capacity will retire by 2029 due to competition from natural gas and renewables.
The United States has played a significant role in global oil production, contributing 17% since 1900, with Texas being a major player, accounting for one-third of the nation’s oil production. Technological advancements like hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling led to record U.S. oil production in the 2010s, making the country the world’s largest oil producer and a net oil exporter.
Waste-to-energy (WTE) plants in the US burn municipal solid waste to generate electricity, contributing less than one percent of the total. Initially developed due to landfill space scarcity, the renewable classification is disputed due to non-biogenic waste. Few new facilities have been built since the 1990s due to opposition, high costs, and increased focus on recycling and waste reduction.
Electricity plays a crucial role in modern society, constituting 21% of energy use in the EU in 2022 and expected to grow due to initiatives in transportation and heating. The 220 largest electricity companies globally represent about 3% of the total market cap of publicly traded companies. This industry is highly concentrated, with just five companies holding 20% of the market cap.
Hydropower, a pioneer in grid-scale electricity generation since the late 19th century, now provides 17% of global electricity, surpassing nuclear, wind, solar, bioenergy, and geothermal combined. While the US and Europe have well-established capacity with limited room for expansion, China, India, Africa, and South America are developing new projects to meet rising electricity demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Oil and natural gas make up 55% of global energy use, with the top 350 companies holding a combined market cap of $7.2 trillion, comprising 7% of the world’s largest companies. State-owned enterprises control 90% of the world’s crude oil reserves. Just 8 companies hold 50% of the market cap.
Approximately 4934 trillion cubic feet of gas have been produced globally since 1900, with the United States contributing around 30%. Texas and Louisiana account for over half of US natural gas production. The introduction of fracking led to a significant increase in production, making the US a major exporter.
Hydropower plants utilize different technologies to generate electricity. Impoundment facilities use a dam to create a reservoir, releasing water through turbines. Run-of-river plants channel river water to generate power while pumped storage hydropower stores energy by moving water between reservoirs of different elevations. Each technology has its advantages and impacts on the environment and infrastructure.