Muscle power: Overview
The oldest engine: people and animals fed by plants
What this tile covers Human and animal work, fuelled by food that plants made from sunlight. Share of use 6.3% share of world energy supply (2022)Share of world total energy supply, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method). Flows EI omits (traditional biomass via WBA, solar and geothermal heat, food energy) are set against the same 592.2 EJ, so shares sum to slightly more than 100%. Food energy supply of about 37.4 EJ (2,985 kcal per person per day x 8.2 billion people) set against 592.2 EJ (calculated). Food lies outside total energy supply statistics, and the mechanical work delivered is a small fraction of this input. Source: Food balance sheets 2010-2022: Global, regional and country trends, FAO.
Key facts
| Origin | Indirect solar |
| Renewable | Yes |
Included from the reference tables
- Muscle power
- Living organisms (food energy)
Also in Solar-derived flows
Sun SunlightWd WindH2O Water cycleWv Ocean wavesOc Ocean currentsOT Ocean thermal gradientSal Salinity gradientBm BiomassAmb Ambient heatExplore paths from here
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