Knowledge Center

Green Energy Around the World

Grade Level: 7th Grade | Duration: 50 minutes (+ optional extension)

This hands-on geography and mathematics lesson engages middle school students in analyzing global renewable energy production through map work, data analysis, and percentage calculations. Working in collaborative groups, students locate 30 countries on a world map, calculate the percentage of each country’s energy production that comes from renewable sources, and rank nations by their “green energy” commitment. The activity combines spatial reasoning skills with proportional mathematics while exploring how geography, culture, and policy influence sustainability efforts worldwide. Students discover dramatic variations in renewable energy adoption—from countries achieving 100% renewable production to those with nearly zero renewable output—prompting critical discussion about the factors that enable or constrain green energy transitions across different global contexts.

Learning Objectives

Students will utilize maps to identify various countries around the world and analyze data for each of the countries related to total energy production. Students will solve multi-step percent problems to calculate the total amount of renewable energy production for each country and determine the relationships between geography, culture, and sustainability efforts.

Background & Context

Energy sources around the world exist in two forms: nonrenewable sources that cannot be replenished in a short period of time, and renewable sources that can be replenished relatively quickly and naturally. The major types of renewable energy include biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar. These renewable sources can have positive, indirect environmental effects when they replace or reduce other energy types with larger environmental impacts.

Solar energy, with the sun as the ultimate source for producing energy, offers many benefits. Solar energy systems produce no air pollutants or carbon dioxide, and systems installed on buildings have minimal environmental effects. However, disadvantages include varying amounts of sunlight reaching earth’s surface and the substantial surface area needed to collect useful amounts of energy.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), total solar energy use in the United States increased from about 0.06 trillion British thermal units (Btu) in 1984 to about 1,501 trillion Btu in 2021. In 2021, approximately 12% of U.S. total energy consumption came from renewable sources, primarily used for electricity generation. Globally, EIA estimates that total world solar electricity generation increased from about 33 billion kWh in 2010 to 842 billion kWh in 2020, with the U.S. producing about 16% and China producing about 32%.

Different countries have made varying levels of progress in increasing renewable energy production, with some nations even committing to producing 100% renewable energy. This activity explores 30 countries and their rankings in renewable energy production.

Activity Structure

Engage Phase (10 minutes) – “Map it!”

Working in groups, students practice geography skills by locating each of the 30 countries listed on the “Around the World” cards. Students place each card or mark each country on the appropriate map location using either a giant laminated world map or printed paper handout. This kinesthetic geography activity activates prior knowledge of world geography while setting the stage for the data analysis to follow.

Explore Phase (30 minutes) – “Calculate it!”

Working in groups, students use the “Total Energy Production Data” handout to determine the percentage of renewables each country produces in relation to total energy production. Students locate each country’s data set from the handout (which includes 30 countries plus worldwide totals). The teacher demonstrates the calculation process using the World data as an example: Renewables and other (69.58 quad Btu) ÷ Total Energy Production (610.13 quad Btu) × 100% = 11.40% total energy production from renewables. Students then apply this formula (Renewables ÷ Total Energy × 100%) to calculate the green energy percentage for each listed country. After completing calculations, students place the corresponding renewable energy percentage card with the correct country on the map, creating a visual representation of global renewable energy distribution.

Evaluate Phase (10 minutes) – “Discuss it!”

Students rank the countries from most to least green energy produced by arranging their card stacks. Groups engage in structured discussion addressing critical questions: Why are top green energy-producing countries able to generate power through renewables? Could lower-ranking countries improve their performance? What steps could those lower-ranking countries take to work toward producing more green energy from renewables? This discussion encourages students to consider geographical advantages (access to hydropower, geothermal resources, consistent sunlight or wind), economic factors, political will, and cultural attitudes toward environmental sustainability.

Materials Included

The lesson package contains several comprehensive student resources:

“Around the World Cards” (3 pages, 30 country cards)

Full-color flag images for 30 countries: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe
Designed for printing, cutting, and laminating for repeated classroom use
Cards can be placed directly on giant laminated maps or used with paper maps

“Renewable Energy Production Cards” (3 pages, 30 percentage cards)

Pre-calculated percentage cards showing each country’s renewable energy production as a percentage of total energy production
Percentages range from 0.00% (Saudi Arabia) to 100.00% (Costa Rica, Iceland, Morocco, Portugal, Uruguay)
Cards display large, clear text: “[XX.XX%] of total energy production from renewables”
Students match these cards to the corresponding country cards after completing their calculations

“Total Energy Production Data” (8 pages)

Comprehensive data table from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (2019 data)
Lists worldwide totals plus detailed breakdowns for all 30 countries
For each country, provides: Total Energy Production (quad Btu), Coal (quad Btu), Natural gas (quad Btu), Petroleum and other liquids (quad Btu), Nuclear (quad Btu), and Renewables and other (quad Btu)
Students use this data to perform percentage calculations
Also available in Excel format (.xlsx) and Apple Numbers format (.numbers) for digital use

“Green Energy Around the World: Country Profile” (1 page – Extension Activity)

Individual research worksheet for extended investigation
Fields include: Country name, Total Amount of Energy Production, Total Amount of Energy Production from Renewables, Total Amount of Energy Consumption, Main Sources of Current Energy Production, Current Efforts Towards Renewable Energy Production
Two drawing boxes: one for sketching the country’s geographic shape, one for drawing the flag
Guides students through deeper research using the International EIA website or other credible sources

Materials Required

For each group of students:

Set of “Around the World Cards” (printed and ideally laminated)
Set of “Renewable Energy Production Cards” (printed and ideally laminated)
Giant laminated world map OR printed paper handout map
Colored markers or sticky notes (if using paper maps to mark countries)
Copy of “Total Energy Production Data” handout
Calculator
Access to internet, resource maps, or textbooks for researching geographical locations

For extension activity (per student):

“Green Energy Around the World: Country Profile” worksheet
Access to internet for research (EIA website recommended)

Extension Activity

Working individually, students use the “Green Energy Around the World: Country Profile” worksheet to collect comprehensive information about one country from the previous activity. Students may choose to research either a high-ranking or low-ranking country, conducting deeper investigation into the factors influencing that nation’s renewable energy production. Using the International U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) website or other credible sources, students gather information by navigating to the interactive world map, selecting their country, and exploring the “Analysis,” “Data,” and “Rankings” sections. This extension transforms the group mathematical activity into individual research practice, building digital literacy and information evaluation skills while deepening understanding of how geography, economics, and policy intersect in energy production decisions.

Answer Key – Country Rankings

The lesson includes a complete answer key showing the calculated percentages for all 30 countries:

100% Renewable: Costa Rica, Iceland, Morocco, Portugal, Uruguay (tied for 1st place)
Top Performers (50%+): Japan (68.62%), Spain (63.40%), Sweden (59.00%), New Zealand (56.14%), Zimbabwe (54.00%), Germany (52.73%)
Mid-Range (20-50%): Brazil (42.30%), Denmark (38.20%), Slovenia (29.00%), France (22.44%), United Kingdom (21.00%)
Moderate (10-20%): North Korea (18.50%), Afghanistan (16.67%), Canada (16.30%), China (15.00%), Thailand (14.23%), Norway (13.09%), Argentina (12.03%), United States (11.50%)
Low Performers (<10%): Mexico (8.46%), Ukraine (4.93%), Egypt (4.00%), Russia (2.74%), Australia (2.55%), Saudi Arabia (0.00%)

Standards Alignment

Alabama College and Career Ready Social Studies Standards – Geography:

Standard 1: Describe the world in spatial terms using maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies—specifically utilizing maps to explain relationships and environments among people and places, including trade patterns, governmental alliances, and immigration patterns
Standard 11: Explain the cultural concept of natural resources and changes in spatial distribution, quantity, and quality through time and by location—including evaluating various cultural viewpoints regarding the use or value of natural resources, and identifying issues regarding depletion of nonrenewable resources and the sustainability of renewable resources

Alabama College and Career Ready Mathematics Standards – Proportional Reasoning:

Standard 3: Solve multi-step percent problems in context using proportional reasoning, including simple interest, tax, gratuities, commissions, fees, markups and markdowns, percent increase, and percent decrease
Standard 5: Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving the four operations of rational numbers, including complex fractions, applying properties of operations as strategies where applicable

Teacher Resources

The lesson references three key online resources:

EIA International Overview: https://www.eia.gov/international/overview/world – Provides global energy production context and analysis
EIA International Data: https://www.eia.gov/international/data/world – Interactive data portal where students can explore country-specific energy statistics
EIA Kids – Renewable Energy: https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy-sources/renewable/ – Student-friendly explanations of renewable energy sources and their benefits