Gitnux/Report 2026

Electric Industry Statistics

Global solar and wind are scaling fast, with 230 GW of solar PV added in 2022 and wind farms running at a 34 percent average global capacity factor, yet the grid still needs massive investment estimated at $3.5 trillion over the decade. For the U.S., nuclear is still delivering at a 92.2 percent capacity factor in 2023 while industrial power costs land at 10.54 cents per kilowatt hour, revealing how generation mix and performance collide with price pressures and outage realities.
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Electric Industry Statistics
Daniel VargaWritten by Daniel Varga·Edited by David Sutherland·Fact-checked by Olivia Thornton
Last verified Jul 11, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Jan 2027
Global electricity generation totals 7,818 TWh. Wind farms operate at an average capacity factor of 34 percent. Utility scale solar reaches 23 percent under the same system analysis assumptions.

Key Takeaways

  • 7,818 TWh total global electricity generation in 2022
  • 4,189 TWh of electricity generation in the United States in 2022
  • 15.8% of U.S. electricity generation came from nuclear in 2023 (as share of total generation)
  • 5.6% of global electricity generation in 2022 came from bioenergy
  • In 2023, U.S. utility-scale natural gas generation was 3,224.9 TWh
  • In 2023, the average global capacity factor of wind farms was 34% (by IEA assumptions in system analysis)
  • U.S. average heat rate for natural gas generation was 7,020 Btu/kWh in 2023
  • In 2023, the average global capacity factor of utility-scale solar was 23% (IEA system analysis assumptions)
  • Japan reported an average outage duration of 12.4 minutes per customer in 2023
  • In 2022, global grid investment needs were estimated at $3.5 trillion over the decade (including transmission and distribution)
  • In 2023, the U.S. average retail price for industrial customers was 10.54 cents per kilowatthour
  • In 2023, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for onshore wind was $0.036/kWh (global range reported by IRENA)
  • In 2023, the U.S. had 69.0 million customers served by utilities for electricity (EIA)
  • Global solar PV capacity additions were about 230 GW in 2022
  • Global wind power capacity additions were about 75 GW in 2022

In 2023, nuclear powered US reliability with 92.2% capacity factors while grids faced rising demand and investment needs.

Related reading

01 · Category

Market Size4 stats

01
7,818 TWh total global electricity generation in 2022
02
4,189 TWh of electricity generation in the United States in 2022
03
15.8% of U.S. electricity generation came from nuclear in 2023 (as share of total generation)
04
In 2023, hydropower provided 6.6% of total U.S. electricity generation
Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

For the market size angle, the United States generated 4,189 TWh of electricity in 2022, and within that sizable base nuclear supplied 15.8% in 2023 while hydropower added 6.6%, highlighting how a large overall demand is met by specific generation sources.

02 · Category

Energy Mix2 stats

01
5.6% of global electricity generation in 2022 came from bioenergy
02
In 2023, U.S. utility-scale natural gas generation was 3,224.9 TWh
Interpretation

Energy Mix Interpretation

In the energy mix, bioenergy accounted for 5.6% of global electricity generation in 2022 while the United States produced 3,224.9 TWh of electricity from utility-scale natural gas in 2023, underscoring how relatively small the bioenergy share is compared with the scale of gas-fired power.

03 · Category

Operational Performance7 stats

01
In 2023, the average global capacity factor of wind farms was 34% (by IEA assumptions in system analysis)
02
U.S. average heat rate for natural gas generation was 7,020 Btu/kWh in 2023
03
In 2023, the average global capacity factor of utility-scale solar was 23% (IEA system analysis assumptions)
04
Coal power plant average global efficiency was about 37% in 2022 (IEA data as reported in efficiency trends)
05
Natural gas power plant average global efficiency was about 54% in 2022 (IEA efficiency trends)
06
Nuclear plant average capacity factor in the U.S. was 92.2% in 2023
07
U.S. average nuclear capacity factor was 92.2% in 2023 (EIA)
Interpretation

Operational Performance Interpretation

Operational performance in 2023 highlights a clear gap between dispatchable and variable resources, with U.S. nuclear running at a strong 92.2% capacity factor while wind averaged 34% globally and utility scale solar reached 23%.

More related reading

04 · Category

Grid & Reliability2 stats

01
Japan reported an average outage duration of 12.4 minutes per customer in 2023
02
In 2022, global grid investment needs were estimated at $3.5 trillion over the decade (including transmission and distribution)
Interpretation

Grid & Reliability Interpretation

In the Grid and Reliability space, Japan’s customers faced an average outage duration of 12.4 minutes in 2023 while globally the energy sector needs about $3.5 trillion in grid investment over the next decade to strengthen transmission and distribution resilience.

05 · Category

Cost Analysis2 stats

01
In 2023, the U.S. average retail price for industrial customers was 10.54 cents per kilowatthour
02
In 2023, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for onshore wind was $0.036/kWh (global range reported by IRENA)
Interpretation

Cost Analysis Interpretation

For cost analysis, 2023 industrial electricity in the U.S. averaged 10.54 cents per kilowatt hour while IRENA reported an LCOE of 0.036 dollars per kilowatt hour for onshore wind, underscoring how wind’s modeled energy cost can be far lower than current industrial retail prices.
report visual · Key figures

Electric generation scale and energy mix (selected highlights)

Selected global and U.S. electricity generation levels and key generation shares show how nuclear, hydropower, and other sources contribute to the overall mix.

7,818
7,818 TWh total global electricity generation in 2022
4,189
4,189 TWh of electricity generation in the United States in 2022
15.8%
15.8% of U.S. electricity generation came from nuclear in 2023 (as share of total generation)
6.6%
In 2023, hydropower provided 6.6% of total U.S. electricity generation
5.6%
5.6% of global electricity generation in 2022 came from bioenergy
source-verifiediea.org · eia.gov · ember-climate.org2023
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Electric Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/electric-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Electric Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/electric-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Electric Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/electric-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

25 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

iea.orgeia.govember-climate.orgoecd-ilibrary.orgirena.orgabout.bnef.comipcc.chspglobal.com

+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)