Energy4me: Connect to a world of energy

Energy moves our world

The higher the standard of living, the greater the amount of energy used. How are we to provide abundant, clean, and affordable energy as world demand increases? Are we running out of oil? Which energy resource is best?

Energy4me provides facts about these and other important energy issues. This site is brought to you by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, a nonprofit global professional society dedicated to knowledge exchange.

Which resource is best?

It depends. Many alternative sources of energy are still being researched and tested. Technologies are continually being developed and enhanced to improve alternate sources of energy. Not all energies are ready for mass consumption, so you have to ask the right questions to find out which energy source does the job.

• Is it a renewable or nonrenewable source?
• What are the capital and setup costs?
• What are the ongoing operating costs?
• What size of energy storage is required?
• How efficient is it to produce one unit of energy?
• Can it be produced on a large scale?
• What is the cost to the consumer?
• What impact will it have on the environment?

To compare various types of energy, the pros and cons, and the costs, see this chart .