Life-cycle emissions
Grams of CO₂ equivalent per kWh.
Global medians. They include construction, fuel, operation and end of life. Every bar starts at zero and uses the same scale.
Data and sources
Numbers need context.
We show the unit, scope, comparison and source. This page will grow to include interactive charts and downloadable files.
IPCC AR5, Annex III ↗
≈90% of the annual potential maximum.
This global median by site compares actual electricity generation with the theoretical maximum over the same period. It includes planned and unplanned outages.
INL/DOE ↗0.03 estimated deaths per TWh.
A global estimate combining accidents and air pollution. It does not mean zero risk and depends on the method used.
Our World in Data ↗How we use figures.
Before publishing, we confirm unit, geography, period, denominator and source. When an estimate is uncertain, we say so.
Interactive explorers.
Future charts will allow people to compare sources and scenarios without hiding the scale or requiring clicks to see essential information.