a peek into the transformation of our electricity sources over the last decade.

the data range has been restricted between 2010-2020

please refer to the resource links for more details

(developed for the World Data Visualization Prize)

Grasping the grid

01 February 2023 | Created by - Sai Ram Ved V

the electricity makeup in our dataset consists of 9 different sources.

let's take a look at how they've evolved over the years.

2010

Rectangle, Violet

global electricity production share of renewables

~19.4%

solar is nowhere to be seen with ~0.15% contribution, and the price per megawatt of electricity by source* being one of the highest at $378/MWh.

*global weighted average of levelized costs of energy (LCOE), without subsidies.

2011

global electricity production share of renewables

~19.8%

Germany announces plans to phase out nuclear power and shift towards renewable energy sources.

2012

Rectangle, Violet

global electricity production share of renewables

~20.6%

we can start to see a sliver of solar electricity contribute to ~0.43% of the mix.

2013

Rectangle, Violet

global electricity production share of renewables

~21.5%

2014

Rectangle, Violet

global electricity production share of renewables

~22.0%

2015

global electricity production share of renewables

~22.7%

the Paris Agreement is signed by nearly 200 countries.

2016

global electricity production share of renewables

~23.5%

2017

global electricity production share of renewables

~24.4%

China announces plans to invest $361 billion into renewable power generation by 2020.

2018

global electricity production share of renewables

~25.0%

2019

global electricity production share of renewables

~26.0%

solar now contributes to ~2.66% of the mix, and the price per megawatt of electricity by source* has dropped to one of the lowest at $68/MWh.

2021

2020

Rectangle, Violet

global electricity production share of renewables

~27.9%

more than 80% of all new electricity capacity added was renewable

While the global trend towards a more sustainable electric grid is encouraging, it's important to also consider the progress of individual countries

Each nation has its own unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to transitioning to a cleaner energy mix.

the following section shows the share of electricity production by source; feel free to select your region and see how it compares against others over time.

The past decade has seen significant progress in transforming the global electric grid composition thanks to technological advancements and policy changes, However, much work remains to reach net-zero milestones.

additionally, While decarbonizing electricity is important, it is only one piece of the puzzle in building a low-carbon energy system.

I would like to encourage you to Explore the resources provided to gain a deeper understanding of the topic and continue the conversation on transitioning towards a sustainable energy future.