Some excellent work at the University of Cambridge identified that in 2005 the world used 475 exajoules (EJ) of primary energy, oil, coal, gas, renewables and nuclear, and out of that we got 55 exajoules of useful energy services – heat, coolth, motion, light and sound. That means that, even with our ‘advanced’ technologies we have an overall efficiency of 11% – hence the “only eleven percent”. We can never achieve 100% but the practical, and even economic, limits to achieving higher energy efficiency are far higher than the levels we achieve today, and improving that performance would bring great benefits in terms of cost reduction, improved energy security, reduced emissions and job creation.
Dr Steven Fawkes
Welcome to my blog on energy efficiency and energy efficiency financing. The first question people ask is why my blog is called 'only eleven percent' - the answer is here. I look forward to engaging with you!
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Black & Veatch Building technologies Caludie Haignere China Climate co-benefits David Cameron E.On EDF EDF Pulse awards Emissions Energy Energy Bill Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency Mission energy security Environment Europe FERC Finance Fusion Government Henri Proglio innovation Innovation Gateway investment in energy Investor Confidence Project Investors Jevons paradox M&V Management net zero new technology NorthWestern Energy Stakeholders Nuclear Prime Minister RBS renewables Research survey Technology uk energy policy US USA Wind farmsMy latest entries
- Applying Energy Efficiency First in financial institutions
- Getting to grips with the complexities of industrial decarbonisation using soft systems
- Back in Brum – home of the Energy Service Company
- Net Zero: A New Front in the Culture Wars?
- Attracting investment to achieve our net zero ambitions
- ep Group’s ESCO-in-a-box®: the McDonald’s of energy efficiency?
- Navigating net zero and the next phase of the energy transition
