Comparing Energy Sources

Explore the table to see tradeoffs of different sources. (Emissions and Land Use are measured using a rough five-point scale, with one representing fewer/less emissions and land used and with five representing more.)

This chart compares the different sources of energy's relative levels of emissions and land use. Wind emits the least and uses the least land, while coal emits the most and uses a relatively high amount of land.

(Please use a modern browser to see the interactive version of this visualization)

*Because hydropower plants can significantly damage the ecosystems where they are built, hydropwer is not always classified as renewable energy.

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