Motivation: Establish quantitative approach for decision and policy-making to help ensure future US energy security.
Energy return on investment (EROI) - ratio of usable energy acquired from a specific resource to the amount of equivalent energy required to extract that energy.
Evaluate current energy sources in terms of EROI:
• Perform analysis without subsidies and tax breaks.
• Include raw material, manufacturing, extraction, transportation and distribution costs.
• Provide estimates of number of jobs per unit energy generated.
Objectives:
Analysis of EROI trends since 1930.
Comparison of US GDP to EROI since 1950.
Evaluation of GDP projections including variations in EROI.
Statistical analysis of various EROI scenarios projected to 2025.