Net Energy Analysis: Little Progress and Many Problems

Net energy is generally defined as the amount of energy available for consumption from a resource after subtracting the energy expended to locate, mine, transport, refine, convert, and deliver it to the customer. The Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) has not used net energy analysis in analyzing and considering net yields of new energy technologies as much as intended by the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974.