Electricity Maps, the leading platform for real-time electricity data, has updated its interactive live map offering users unprecedented insights into the world’s power grids.
The free web app visualizes key electricity metrics across more than 200 countries and territories, with data refreshing every 15 minutes. Users can explore layers for carbon intensity (measured in gCO₂eq/kWh, with a color scale from 0 to 1500), electricity production mix, prices, renewable and carbon-free shares, total load, cross-border flows, and more. A timeline slider allows viewing historical and near-term forecast data, while clicking on any zone reveals detailed breakdowns, graphs, and export options.
Built on MapLibre technology, the map helps individuals, policymakers, businesses, and researchers understand the real-time environmental impact of electricity consumption. For instance, it highlights how grids shift rapidly between renewable-heavy and fossil fuel-dominated mixes depending on weather, demand, and generation availability. Recent platform expansions have added real-time coverage to over 110 additional countries, using advanced weather integration for accurate carbon intensity estimates even in data-scarce regions.
Why It Matters
Electricity generation accounts for a massive share of global CO₂ emissions, but its carbon footprint varies dramatically by location and time of day. Electricity Maps enables data-driven decisions, such as:
- Optimizing EV charging or running energy-intensive tasks when renewables dominate the grid.
- Supporting corporate Scope 2 emissions reporting with granular, location- and time-based data.
- Informing policy debates on the energy transition.
The tool has been cited by heads of state, featured in classrooms, and used by millions annually since its origins as an open-source project in 2016. It continues to evolve with features like improved load forecasting (incorporating heating and cooling degree days) and full-coverage data exports.
As global electricity demand surges—driven by data centers, electrification, and economic growth—tools like this live map play a vital role in accelerating decarbonization. Visitors can access the map directly and switch layers in the bottom-right corner for different views, or dive deeper into country/zone details on the left panel.
For the most accurate picture of your local grid’s cleanliness right now, head to https://app.electricitymaps.com/map and zoom in. The platform also offers API access for developers and organizations needing programmatic data.
