The graph illustrates the use of renewable sources in 6 countries, namely Finland, Denmark, France, Germany, United States and United Kingdom.
Overall, there were rises in the amount of renewable sources in most countries examined, while a decline was seen in Finland. It is also noticeable that Finland generally used the largest amount of renewable energy and the UK is the smallest throughout the period.
The use of renewable energy in Finland, Denmark and the US saw significant fluctuations in the first half of the period, with subsequent steady rises. The proportion of electricity coming from renewable sources of energy in Finland started at 25%, after which it fluctuated dramatically within the first 18 years, before increasing from around 16% in 1989 to the end of 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 3% of the total electricity in the United States came from renewable energy in 1971, after which it witnessed a steady rise to around 5% in the first 7 years, before fluctuated by 5% in the next 25 years, the USA recorded a rapid growth to 18%, surpassing Germany, France and Denmark at the end of the period.
The remaining countries saw more steady increases. Germany and France started at over 5% and 8% in 1971, respectively, with subsequent small and gradual fluctuations in the next 15 years and a final significant growth to just under 15% at the end of the period. Regarding the use of electricity came from renewable sources in the UK, it started at a small rate of just 1%, it then saw a gradual growth, ending at just over 5%.