The line graph illustrates how much renewable energy was used in six different countries between 1971 and 2006.
Overall, there were increases in the percentages of energy from renewable sources in all countries, except for Finland, whose figures fluctuated wildly and slightly decreased. Additionally, while the use of this form of energy in Finland was consistently highest, the UK was the least reliant on it throughout the period.
The use of renewable energy in Finland, Denmark, France and Germany saw significant fluctuations in the first half of the period, with subsequent fairly steady rises. The proportion of electricity coming from renewable sources of energy in Finland started at shy of 25%, after which it fluctuated wildly within the first 18 years, before increasing from 16% in 1989 to end the period at about 23%. Similarly, the figure for Denmark varied in the range from 10 to 15% in the first 25 years, followed by a moderate increase to about 17% in 2011. Similarly, roughly 8% and 5% of the total electricity production in France and Germany came from renewable energy in 1971. with subsequent small fluctuations in the next 15 years, and a final rapid growth to just under 15% in 2011.
The use of renewables in the US and the UK rose and saw fewer fluctuations. These countries both started at low levels of 2.5% and 1% respectively. While the former, despite some slight variations, rose rapidly to end the period at 18%, after surpassing Germany, France and Denmark, the latter recorded gradual growth, ending at just over 5% at the end of the period.