Energy Consumption & Civilization Type Analysis
The Kardashev scale is a method of measuring a civilization's level of technological advancement based on the amount of energy it is able to use. Proposed by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev in 1964, it has three designated categories:
Can use and store all of the energy available on its planet from its parent star. (~10¹⁶ Watts)
Can harness the total energy of its planet's parent star (e.g., Dyson Sphere). (~10²⁶ Watts)
Can control energy on the scale of its entire host galaxy. (~10³⁶ Watts)
Humanity is currently a "Type 0" civilization. Based on Total Primary Energy Supply
(oil, gas, coal, etc.), we are estimated to be around Type 0.73.
*The live data below tracks Electricity
Generation only, which is a subset of total energy (~20%). This results in a lower
calculated Type.
**TWh** stands for **Terawatt-hour**. It is a unit of energy equal to one trillion watts used for one hour. To put it in perspective, 1 TWh can power about 100,000 average homes for a year.
The Earth is effectively a "closed system" for electricity. We don't import power from space! Therefore, every watt generated must be consumed (or lost as heat) somewhere on the planet.
Unlike the World total, individual countries trade electricity. If **Demand > Generation**, the country imports power. If **Generation > Demand**, it exports power to its neighbors.
We use Carl Sagan's logarithmic formula: $K = \frac{\log_{10} P - 6}{10}$, where $P$ is the power in Watts. We derive the power $P$ from the annual TWh energy consumption.