Comments on: Electricity Emissions Around The World (Maps)

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 13:27:00 +0000

It is a very good map indicating energy usage around the world, but it doesn’t distinguish the amount of renewable energy in comparison, prior to solar installation. There are many arguments around the world that say the solar energy hasn’t reduced or deducted energy from fossil fuels. One of the most recent arguments on solar energy is that solar energy is still dependent on fossil fuels and if fossil fuels was turned off solar energy wouldn’t work, given the void time.

By: Lazy

Lazy — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 13:15:00 +0000

Doesn’t look good, using all that amount of energy in United States per-person. I thought you said that solar power reduces loading, the map quietly clearly identifies solar power increases loading.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 04:22:00 +0000

Eh, that submerged vegetation does rot away. Early in the life of a dam methane is going to be released but that will taper off as the submerged vegetation is used up.

One needs to use a lifetime footprint and not a “worst year” measurement.

By: Victor Provenzano

Victor Provenzano — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 04:17:00 +0000

The data here on net carbon emissions for tropical nations that rely on hydroelectric power may be quite inaccurate, especially in the case of emerging market nations like Brazil. Tropical hydro has net carbon emissions that are higher than those of coal because of the methane that is released by the submerged trees, plants, and organic matter.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 05:26:00 +0000

Hi Susan. I’ve missed you around these parts.

If you’ve got time I’d like to hear about renewables in NZ. I’m sure Zach would like to publish something on the area.

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 02:28:00 +0000

Too bad there’s not a state by state map. I suspect it is only the five dirty states (with 90% or over coal-power) that even makes the US pink. If you count hydro, and this map does ie in New Zealand, the majority of US states are actually pretty green with unlikely green states like hydro-rich Idaho and the the Dakotas.

By: Lindsay Wilson

Lindsay Wilson — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 21:02:00 +0000

Yep, you’ve got a point. The continent colours were a hangover from the second chart. Not sure I would find absolute useful, perhaps the mix

By: JamesWimberley

JamesWimberley — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 20:28:00 +0000

Praiseworthy effort.
I suggest the final bubble chart is not efficient. The colour codes are pointless – we know what continent the bubbles relate to from the map. So better use the colours to indicate something that isn’t already obvious, like absolute magnitude. Or switch round, and have the bubble size correspond to absolute emissions, and the colours to ranges of emissions per capita. So China and the USA would have huge bubbles, as they are the two biggest emitters; but of different colours, as the US has much higher emissions per capita than China..