If the world is to reduce its carbon emissions and tackle climate change, it needs to move away from fossil fuels to low-carbon power.
There are two key sources of low-carbon electricity: renewables — which include solar, wind, hydropower, and others — and nuclear power.
While rapid growth in solar and wind has increased the amount of electricity coming from renewables, a lack of enthusiasm for nuclear means it’s playing a shrinking role in the global mix.
In the chart, you can see the share of global electricity coming from fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear since 1985. Since 2000, nuclear and renewables have followed very different trajectories. Back then, both accounted for a similar share of global electricity. But in 2025, renewables made up more than three times as much: 34% compared to 9%.
The total amount of electricity produced by nuclear plants is about the same as it was two decades ago. But because the world produces much more electricity overall, its share of the electricity mix has declined.
(written by Hannah Ritchie and Pablo Arriagada)
9 hours agophillips5068
Because solar and wind are faster, cheaper and more efficient.. of course we need to sort out storage but the most important thing is to reduce demand and manage how renewables transfer energy into our different demand systems
2 days agoessgurumantra
That gap is striking, @ourworldindata: renewables and nuclear level in 2000, then 34 percent against 9 percent by 2025. It is a great chart for IB ESS discussions on energy choices, because it shows how a falling share can hide steady output. Which factors do you think matter most in shaping a country's mix, cost, public perception or policy?
3 days agonick_h_99
To be expected after the mistakes of the past that slowed nuclear. Either way we need to get back to higher amounts of nuclear faster.
3 days ago7aler
Submit plans for a nuclear facility today. In the mean time get the interconnect agreement for it live and install the same amount of solar and battery. Then see if the nuclear plan is cleared before the panels and batteries reach the end of their economic lifetime.
3 days agomarcodeleonardis68
Fossils are rising even if renewables are rising. Only nuclear can decrease fossils. Don't be fooled by the picture
3 days agoastraquant_official
Interesting split: renewables are growing while nuclear declines, so the net effect depends on the baseline. How much of this do you think is policy versus falling costs?
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