Community and Blockchain: The Pillars of HEGO
Electricity distribution is currently managed mainly by power distribution companies. They decide what to use for energy production, such as hydrocarbons, nuclear, coal, or renewables.
The technologies developed by the community will be primarily renewable. Each charging station will display the energy source. HEGO charging stations (excluding potential partnerships) will have public information on construction, assembly, and components used, allowing any technically skilled user to prepare their own station. Additionally, local companies with the necessary skills can assemble, supply, and support potential distributors.
Energy production, depending on the community, will be developed using various renewable methods, based on systems already in use and shared by those who are already using them.
Here is an overview of the average electricity generation sources across European Union countries in 2022 (based on data updated as of August 2023):
- Nuclear: 25%
- Natural Gas: 23%
- Renewables: 22%
- Wind: 14%
- Hydroelectric: 13%
- Solar: 6%
- Solid Biofuels: 5%
- Other Renewables: 2%
- Coal: 15%
- Oil: 1%
- Other Sources: 2%
As can be seen, the EU average shows a fairly balanced distribution between nuclear, natural gas, renewables and coal as the main sources for electricity generation.
Some additional notes:
- Nuclear is particularly significant in France (69%), Sweden (30%), Belgium (39%), while other countries like Italy, Portugal and Denmark have no nuclear plants.
- Natural gas is widely used in Italy (49%), Netherlands (62%), Germany (15%).
- Hydroelectric and wind renewables are concentrated in countries like Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Spain.
- Coal remains a significant source in Germany (28%), Poland (49%), Czech Republic (35%).
- Some leading nations in renewables are Denmark (77%), Sweden (54%), Portugal (42%).
So while the EU-level averages provide an overview, there are marked differences between individual member states in the electricity generation sources used, driven by a mix of national geographic, political and economic factors.
Here is an overview of the electricity generation sources in the United States in 2022 (based on data updated as of August 2023):
- Natural Gas: 38%
- Coal: 21%
- Nuclear: 19%
- Renewables: 20%
- Wind: 10%
- Hydroelectric: 6%
- Solar: 2%
- Biomass: 2%
- Petroleum: 0.5%
- Other Sources: 1%
Some key points:
- Natural gas is the largest source for electricity generation in the U.S., driven by its abundance and relatively lower emissions compared to coal.
- Coal, while declining, still accounts for over a fifth of generation due to its low cost and availability.
- Nuclear power provides nearly 20% of electricity from around 90 operational reactors across the country.
- Renewables make up 20% combined, with wind being the largest renewable source followed by hydroelectric.
- Solar electricity generation has been growing rapidly but still accounts for just 2% of the total.
There is significant regional variation, with some states being heavily reliant on coal (West Virginia, Wyoming), others on natural gas (Texas, California), renewables (California, Texas, Iowa for wind), hydroelectric (Washington, Oregon) or nuclear (Illinois, Pennsylvania).
The U.S. electricity mix has been shifting towards more natural gas and renewables in recent years as coal plants retire and new renewable facilities come online.
