Classification of major energy sources that support global energy supply.
Overview
Major Energy Sources of the World
Major energy sources of the world are broadly classified into fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas), nuclear power, and renewable energy (hydro, wind, solar, etc.). As of 2024, fossil fuels account for approximately 80% of global primary energy, but renewable energy is growing rapidly and is expected to overtake coal as the largest power source in the electricity sector by 2025. Organizations such as the IEA (International Energy Agency) and Ember track the trends of energy transition.
energy
fossil fuels
renewable energy
nuclear power
IEA
decarbonization
energy transition
| code | slug | name | description | category | share2024_electricity | share2024_primaryEnergy | share2024_renewableElectricity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | fossil-fuels | Fossil Fuels | Fuel resources formed from ancient organic matter transformed underground over long periods. | Primary Energy | ~60% | ~80% | |
| 01-01 | oil | Oil | The world's largest energy source, widely used primarily in the transportation sector. | Fossil Fuels | ~30% | ||
| 01-02 | coal | Coal | Has been used as the largest power source in the electricity sector for over 50 years. | Fossil Fuels | ~35% | ~27% | |
| 01-03 | natural-gas | Natural Gas | Shows the strongest demand growth among fossil fuels, used for power generation and industrial fuel. | Fossil Fuels | ~22% | ~25% | |
| 02 | nuclear-power | Nuclear Power | Power generation using nuclear fission reactions, being re-evaluated as a decarbonized power source. | Nuclear Power | ~9% | ~5% | |
| 03 | renewable-energy | Renewable Energy | Energy sources that are continuously replenished in the natural environment, key to a decarbonized society. | Renewable Energy | ~32% | ~15% | |
| 03-01 | hydropower | Hydropower | The most mature renewable energy, accounting for the largest share of global renewable electricity generation. | Renewable Energy | ~14% | ~44% | |
| 03-02 | wind-power | Wind Power | Power generation using onshore and offshore wind turbines, with rapidly declining costs. | Renewable Energy | ~8% | ||
| 03-03 | solar-power | Solar Power | The fastest-growing energy source, maintaining a pace of doubling every three years. | Renewable Energy | ~7% | ||
| 03-04 | biomass-energy | Biomass Energy | Energy source utilizing organic matter as fuel, including waste utilization. | Renewable Energy | ~3% | ||
| 03-05 | geothermal-energy | Geothermal Energy | A stable renewable energy utilizing heat from within the Earth. | Renewable Energy | ~1% |