Where the World's Electricity Comes From

The science

Where does the world's electricity actually come from? This map draws on the Global Power Plant Database – a collaboration between the World Resources Institute, Google, and research institutions – which catalogs around 30,000 power stations worldwide, from coal plants and nuclear reactors to hydro dams, wind farms and solar arrays, along with how much each one generates.

It is a snapshot of a system in the middle of profound change, as the world shifts from fossil fuels toward renewables.

How we turned it into a print

We drew each power station as a circle scaled to its output – the bigger the circle, the more power it produces. The world's largest hydropower plant stands out in China; clusters of generation trace the industrial heartlands. It is a map that rewards a closer look, and hints at how quickly the picture is changing as renewables, hydrogen and smart grids reshape the network.

The print

From our Minimal collection, The World as Power Stations is printed on premium paper in 70x50 cm and 100x70 cm. Data source: Global Power Plant Database, World Resources Institute.