Energy statistics refers to collecting, compiling, analyzing and disseminating data on commodities such as coal, crude oil, natural gas, electricity, or renewable energy sources (biomass, geothermal, wind or solar energy), when they are used for the energy they contain. Energy is the capability of some substances, resulting from their physico-chemical properties, to do work or produce heat. Some energy commodities, called fuels, release their energy content as heat when they burn. This heat could be used to run an internal or external combustion engine. Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil ) or crude oil is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. ... Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane but including significant quantities of ethane, butane, propane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen sulfide. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... Switchgrass, a hardy plant used in the biofuel industry in the United States Rice chaff. ... Geothermal power plant in the Philippines Geothermal power is the use of geothermal heat to generate electricity. ... Worldwide installed capacity and prediction 1997-2010, Source: WWEA Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into more useful forms, usually electricity using wind turbines. ... Solar power describes a number of methods of harnessing energy from the light of the sun. ... In thermodynamics, thermodynamic work is a generalisation of the concept of mechanical work in mechanics. ... In physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is defined as transfer of thermal energy [1] Generally, heat is a form of energy transfer associated with the different motions of atoms, molecules and other particles that comprise matter when it is hot and when it is cold. ... For information on the band, see Fuel (band). ... Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... An external combustion engine is an engine which burns its fuel to heat a separate working fluid which then in turn performs work. ...

The need to have statistics on energy commodities became obvious during the 1973 oil crisis that brought tenfold increase in petroleum prices. Before the crisis, to have accurate data on global energy supply and demand was not deemed critical. One of the most important concerns of today’s energy statistics is a huge gap in energy consumption between developed and developing countries. As the gap narrows (see picture), the pressure on energy supply increases tremendously. A graph of a Normal bell curve showing statistics used in educational assessment and comparing various grading methods. ... At the height of the crisis in the United States, drivers of vehicles with odd numbered license plates were allowed to purchase gasoline only on odd-numbered days of the month, while drivers with even-numbers were limited to even-numbered days. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (as of 2004). ... It has been suggested that Underdevelopment be merged into this article or section. ...

Global energy comsumption per capita, 1950-2004

The data on energy and electricity come from three principal sources:

• Energy industry
• Other industries ("self-producers")
• Consumers

The flows of and trade in energy commodities are measured both in physical units (e.g., metric tons), and, when energy balances are calculated, in energy units (e.g., terajoules or tons of oil equivalent). What makes energy statistics specific and different from other fields of economic statistics is the fact that energy commodities undergo greater number of transformations (flows) than other commodities. In these transformations energy is conserved, as defined by and within the limitations of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The energy industry is a generic term for all of the industries involved the production and sale of energy, including fuel extraction, manufacturing fuel and refining, and fuel distribution. ... A tonne (also called metric ton) is a non-SI unit of mass, accepted for use with SI, defined as: 1 tonne = 103 kg (= 106 g). ... Energy balance has the following meanings in several fields: In physics, energy balance is a systematic presentation of energy flows and transformations in a system. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude we list here energies between 1012 joules (a terajoule, symbol TJ) and 1013 joules. ... The ton of oil equivalent (TOE) is a unit for measuring energy. ... Econometrics literally means economic measurement. It is the branch of economics that applies statistical methods to the empirical study of economic theories and relationships. ... The first law of thermodynamics, a generalized expression of the law of the conservation of energy, states: // Description Essentially, the First Law of Thermodynamics declares that energy is conserved for a closed system, with heat and work being the forms of energy transfer. ... The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the universal law of increasing entropy. ...

See also

• World energy resources and consumption

Image File history File links Portal. ... World energy consumption in TW (=1012 Watt), 1980-2004. ...

External links

• International Energy Agency: Statistics
• United Nations: Energy Statistics

Publications

• Energy Statistics Yearbook 2004, United Nations, 2006
• Energy Balances and Electricity Profiles 2004, United Nations, 2006