Energy Consumption from Fossil Fuels, Nuclear and Renewables
Data, Graphs, and Maps
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Science, Geography, Mathematics
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Our World in Data
What it is
- This interactive shows primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables.
- Students can see this data as an interactive graph or table.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Showing energy data in these categories gives a less overwhelming picture of the energy distribution.
- Students are able to interact with the graph and sort data on the chart to fit their needs.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand the difference between renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can use this resource to understand the prevalence of fossil fuels compared to alternatives and discuss what needs to be done to implement more renewables.
- After looking at the data, students can discuss the impact of fossil fuels on climate change. The Renewable Energy Learning Lab Lessons can help students understand this and other aspects related to energy.
- Students may need additional information about nuclear energy, as they may not be familiar with or understand why it is separate from both fossil fuels and renewable energy. Introduction to Nuclear Energy has a fact sheet and video to give students more information.
From the scientist review
Inefficiencies in energy production from fossil fuels were approximated using a substitution method. Students can explore changes in energy production from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable energy from different countries. The resource, including the method and datasets used, is recommended for teaching.
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