DK - WOW! The Visual Encyclopedia of Everything

111

1 North America

The USA has

less than 5 per cent of the world’s

population, but uses more than 15

per cent of the world’s electricity,

most of it generated in coal-fired

power stations. In Canada, hydroelectric

generation accounts for more than

half of all electricity generated.

2 South America

Some countries

in this continent produce electricity

using ethanol, a renewable “green”

fuel made from the byproducts of

sugar cane.

3 Antarctica

The only people who

live here are scientific researchers.

Their electricity is mostly provided by

diesel-powered generators, but also

increasingly from wind and solar power.

4 Europe A variety of different sources

are used to generate electricity in Europe,

including nuclear power. France relies on

nuclear power stations for more than three-

quarters of its electricity.

5 Africa Less than half of the 1.3 billion

people living in Africa have access to electricity,

and in many countries people suffer from

frequent power outages. Solar and geothermal

generation holds great promise for the future.

6 Asia In recent years, China, Japan, and

India have accounted for much of the increase

in electricity generation and use. China relies

on coal-fired power stations, but is rapidly

increasing its use of solar power.

7 Australia

Australia relies on coal-fired

power stations for about half of its electricity,

but in New Zealand 97% is generated by

hydroelectric power.

• Materials with electrons that
  cannot move are unable to
  conduct electricity and are known
  as insulators. Electric wire is
  insulated with plastic or rubber.
  
  
  • Electricity leaves power stations
    through metal cables on tall
    pylons. The power is sent out at
    a much higher voltage than is
    used in most homes.
    
    
    • Before arriving in a city,
      the voltage is reduced by a
      transformer at a sub-station.
      It then travels across the city
      in cables under the streets.
      
      
      • In some earthquake-prone cities,
        such as Tokyo, Japan, electricity
        is carried in overhead cables.
        Underground cables would be
        too prone to earthquake damage.
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

NIGHT LIGHT

This image was compiled from

pictures taken by a military weather

satellite. It shows how light from the

world’s cities is visible from space.

5

4

6

7

110_111_Electricity.indd 111 03/01/19 12:10 PM