<P> By the end of 2014 , the total installed global power generating capacity is nearly 6.142 TW ( million MW ) which does not include the DG sets not connected to local electricity grids . In 2014 , world energy consumption for electricity generation was coal 40.8 % , natural gas 21.6 % , nuclear 10.6 % , hydro 16.4 % , ' others ' ( solar , wind , geothermal , biomass , etc . ) 6.3 % and oil 4.3 % . Coal and natural gas were the most popular energy fuels for generating electricity . The world 's electricity consumption was 18,608 TWh in 2012 . This figure is about 18 % smaller than the generated electricity , due to grid losses , storage losses , and self - consumption from power plants ( gross generation ) . Cogeneration ( CHP ) power stations use some of the energy that is otherwise wasted for heating buildings or in industrial processes . </P>
<P> By the end of 2014 , the total installed global power generating capacity is nearly 6.142 TW ( million MW ) which does not include the DG sets not connected to local electricity grids . In 2014 , world energy consumption for electricity generation was coal 40.8 % , natural gas 21.6 % , nuclear 10.6 % , hydro 16.4 % , ' others ' ( solar , wind , geothermal , biomass , etc . ) 6.3 % and oil 4.3 % . Coal and natural gas were the most popular energy fuels for generating electricity . The world 's electricity consumption was 18,608 TWh in 2012 . This figure is about 18 % smaller than the generated electricity , due to grid losses , storage losses , and self - consumption from power plants ( gross generation ) . Cogeneration ( CHP ) power stations use some of the energy that is otherwise wasted for heating buildings or in industrial processes . </P>
what percentage of the world 's electricity is supplied by coal
what percentage of the world 's electricity is supplied by coal
40.8 %
40.8 %