The pie charts illustrate the proportion of electricity generated from different sources in New Zealand and Germany in 1980 and 2010.
Overall, New Zealand relied primarily on renewable sources, especially hydro power, throughout the period, whereas Germany shifted from a heavy dependence on conventional thermal power in 1980 to a more balanced energy mix by 2010.
In 1980, hydro power dominated electricity production in New Zealand, accounting for 75%, while thermal sources contributed the remaining 25%. By 2010, hydro power still remained the main source at 56%, although its share fell considerably, as renewable sources such as geothermal and wind expanded to 32% combined. Interestingly, New Zealand had almost no contribution from nuclear energy in either year.
Germany, on the other hand, presented a contrasting picture. In 1980, conventional thermal power accounted for the vast majority at 75%, while nuclear represented 15% and renewables only 10%. By 2010, however, reliance on thermal sources had dropped sharply to 59%. Nuclear energy doubled its share to 30%, becoming a major contributor, and renewable sources also increased slightly to 17%.
In summary, New Zealand consistently depended on hydro power, with renewables gaining importance by 2010, while Germany reduced its dependence on thermal power and placed greater emphasis on nuclear energy over the three decades.