There are many different electrical generation methods. Each produces varying quantities of greenhouse gas (GHG) through its lifecycle—construction, operations (including fuel supply activities), and decommissioning. Some generation methods such as coal fired power plants release the majority of GHGs during operations. Others, such as wind power and nuclear power, release the majority of emissions during construction and decommissioning. The figure below, from a World Nuclear Association report, shows the lifecycle GHG emissions from different electricity generation methods. The lower the value, the less GHG emissions are emitted. This figure is based on a number of studies and the error bars in the figure show the range among studies.
