Energy Production Efficiency: Gas vs. Fuel

These are both non-renewable energy sources. Lately, gas has been used for fueling vehicles, a sector that was exclusive to gas. Both can and have been used to generate heat and electricity. Read on and find out which of them is the most efficient.

Efficiency and Cost

It is difficult to accurately state which the total cost of an energy source is because there are many indicators involved in the equation and changing all the time. For example, you have to bear in mind the cost of the fuel itself, the cost of its production and/or refinement and finally the cost that has dealing with the environmental damage done by that fuel.

According to a study by the Wall Street Journal published in 2016, the cheapest energy fuel to produce was gas. The prestigious journal assigned a value of $66 per MW produced. In the case of fuel, it comes way further down the line at $125 for each MW. Taking into account what is the cost of retrieving petroleum, its scarcity and the political implications it has brought to the world, this should not be a surprise.

Energy Conversion

According to another a study published by a company called Energy Points, the percentage of the original energy input retained when that fuel is used to generate electricity is not too different between gas and fuel. Still, gas is in the lead with 38% against 31% from oil.

Conclusion

According to both variables: cost and efficiency in conversion, gas beats fuel as the most efficient of them. Nevertheless, both of them are placed very low in the chart of energy conversion. For example, solar is way ahead with an astonishing 207% and wind energy leads the chart with an amazing 1,164% of efficiency.