Generation From Fossil Fuels

Abstract The fossil fuels, coal, oil, and gas, now provide about 60% of the world’s electricity and are likely to remain important fuels for electricity generation for many decades (hydro power provides about 23% and nuclear power about 17%). The relative contributions of these fuels have changed dramatically since the early days, when almost all electricity was generated from coal. In 1965, for example, 44% of world electricity (excluding the communist countries) was generated from coal, 12.5% from oil, and 10% from gas. The corresponding figures for 1985 were 37%, 11%, and 10.5%. The total quantity of fossil fuels burned each year for the generation of electricity (again excluding the communist countries) increased from 1105 million tonnes of coal (or coal equivalent) in 1965 to 2975 million tonnes in 1985.