Visualizing Environmental Science

426426

OiOill impoimporrtsts

(in millionmetrictons, 20100 )

The use and availability of

primary energy resources are

unequally distributed around

the globe. Morethan 86 percent

of energy consumed globally is

from nonrenewablefossil

fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas.

Consumption of these fuels is

greatest in industrialized

nations, with the United Statess

using up nearly one-quarterrr.

Developing countries, especially

those in sub-Saharan Africa, relly

on moretraditional sources

of energyyy, such as firewood

and dung.

More than 25, 000

10 ,001–25, 000

1001–10, 000

10 1–1 000

10 – 100

Less than 1 0

No data available

ALLLTERNATIVE ENERGIES

Hydropower provides nearly

18 percent oftheworld’s electricity,

but itislimited tocountrieswith

adequatewater resources,and it

poses threatstolocal watersheds.

Nuclearenergymakesup

17 percent ofEarth’s electricity,

but fewcountrieshaveadoptedit

because offpotential environmental

risks andwastedisposalissues.

Solarand windenergyare

inexhaustibleand are the focusof

new energytechnologiesand

research. Geothermalenergyis

efficient but limited tocountries

withreadysourcesofhot

groundwater,suchasIceland.

Renewable sourcesof

energy—geothermal,solar,

andwind—makeup asmall

percentageofthe world’s

energysupply.Theyhavea

significant impact, however,

onlocaland regionalenergy

supplies,especiallyfor

electricity,inplacessuchas

theUnitedStates,Japan,and

Germany.These sourcesof

energycanberegenerated or

renewedin a relativelyshort

time,whereasfossilfuels form

overgeologictimespans.

More than 500 0

110000 1–5–1 000000

More than 25 0

17 5–25 0

7 5–1 74

Less than 75

GUermany 25,000nited States 35,000

Sppain 19,, 000

IDndia 11,80enmark 34 (^065)
United Kingdom 2100
INetatlyhe (^485) rlan (^0) ds 22 30
Japan 205 6
United States, Europe, Japan,
and China. Other major oil
exporters include the
RussianFederation, Norwayyy,
Venezuela, and Mexico.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Major oil reserves are
clustered in a handful of
countries, more than half
of which are in the Middle
East, whereas the greatestt
demand for oil is in the
Coal
Natural gas
Oil
cOhiol trkansepoitint
Major energyy deposit
Annual energy consumption,
in trillions of British thermal units (BTUs)
RENEWABLE ENERGY
HYDROPOWER
NUCLEAR
SOLAR
WIND
GEOTHERMAL
PAASCIFIIA-C
PAASCIFIIA-C
Jim Richar
dson/NG Ima
ge
Col
lec
tio
n
Ma
rk B
ur
nett
/Photo
Res
ear
chers
, Inc.
J.
Mead
/Science Source
John Mead
/Photo
Res
ear
chers
, Inc.
Photo by Pacific Gas
&
Electric
, NREL 0006
0
The Geothermal Energy Association/
Barry Soloman/Michigan Technological
University/Sandia National Laboratories/
Windpower Monthly News Magazine
U.S. Department of Energy/USGS Mineral
Resources Program
œL>Êi˜iÀ}ÞÊÃÕ««ÞÊ>˜`ÊVœ˜ÃՓ«Ìˆœ˜ÊUʈ}ÕÀiʣǰ£äÊ
Oil suppliers are distributed unequally around the world, and energy consumption varies dramatically between regions.
Is the country you live
in a net importer or
exporter of oil?
GLOBAL
LOCAL