Electricity

Electricity is an important sector where we have the technology to meet global needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Let's take a closer look at some of the ways we can do this!

Solar Energy

Wind Energy

Geothermal Energy

One of these types of electricity, wind power generates electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind that rotates the blades of a wind turbine. The electricity generated by wind power can be used to displace electricity produced by the combustion of fossil fuels; in the Design Our Climate simulation (DOCs), the learning tool assumes coal power specifically is displaced. Once you've reduced the percent of electricity from coal to zero the learning tool will ask you to reduce another power source before increasing the wind power slider any further, for example.

Worked Example

Question: Reset the Design Our Climate simulation (DOCs). Use this tool to estimate what percent of the global power supply must come from wind power in order to remove one wedge from the projected greenhouse gas emissions graph. To remove one wedge, what percent of the global electricity supply must come from wind power?

Click here to show answer

Removal of one wedge from the projected emissions graph requires approximately 17% of the global electricity supply to come from wind power, which is assumed to replace coal power. Currently about of the electricity supply comes from wind power.