Grey energy
The environmental impact of energy . A few examples

When it comes to assessing the impact that energy consumption can have when using an object or carrying out an activity, we often simply look at the quantity of energy consumed. Depending on where it comes from, it can be more or less polluting or a source of greenhouse gases. For example, if you use an electric car, the origin of the electricity has a major impact on its environmental impact. If the electricity comes largely from hydro and nuclear power, with some solar and wind power, as is the case in France, the environmental impact is much lower than if the electricity is produced by coal-fired power stations. In the latter case, the environmental impact is almost equal to, and sometimes greater than, that of a thermal car using petrol or diesel.