Visualized: U.S. Energy Use, by Source and Sector
Range Disclosures
Visualized: U.S. Energy Use, by Source and Sector
In 2023, U.S. energy consumption reached a staggering 93.6 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), or about 94 Quads, facilitating the U.S. transport, industrial, residential, commercial, and power sectors.
For this graphic, Visual Capitalist has partnered with Range ETFs to explore how this wealth of energy flowed through the nation in 2023.
How the U.S. Uses Its Energy
Energy exists in various forms, and as a result, measuring its consumption requires different units. For instance, we measure liquid fuels like petroleum or diesel in barrels or gallons, natural gas in cubic feet, coal in tons, and electricity in kilowatt-hours. However, the Btu (British thermal unit) is a standardized unit that compares different types of energy.
Here’s is a breakdown, measured in Quads, of the total energy flowing through U.S. infrastructure, showing which sectors consume the most energy:
Source | Quads | End Use Sector | End Use % | Quads |
---|---|---|---|---|
Petroleum | 35.4 | Transport | 70% | Transport = 28 |
Industrial | 24% | |||
Residential | 3% | |||
Commercial | 3% | |||
Power | 1% | |||
Natural Gas | 33.6 | Transport | 4% | Industrial = 22.6 |
Industrial | 32% | |||
Residential | 14% | |||
Commercial | 10% | |||
Power | 40% | |||
Renewables | 8.2 | Transport | 22% | Residential = 6.3 |
Industrial | 27% | |||
Residential | 9% | |||
Commercial | 3% | |||
Power | 39% | |||
Coal | 8.1 | Transport | - | Commerical = 4.7 |
Industrial | 11% | |||
Residential | - | |||
Commercial | 1% | |||
Power | 89% | |||
Nuclear | 8.1 | Transport | - | Power = 32.1 |
Industrial | - | |||
Residential | - | |||
Commercial | - | |||
Power | 100% |
While 93.6 quadrillion Btu of energy is an incredible amount, it is not the peak of U.S. energy consumption. In 2022, for example, America consumed 100 quadrillion Btu of energy. Although the U.S. uses energy in a variety of different ways, over 90% of this energy comes from fossil or nuclear fuels.
Tomorrow’s Consumption
According to short-term projections provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), there is expected to be no significant change in how the United States generates electricity by 2025. The projections indicate that less than 10% of the country’s energy will come from renewable sources, highlighting the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear energy to meet the nation’s energy needs.
Investing in Energy
Energy consumption in America has been consistently high over the last decade, with no sign of decreasing or shifting dynamics in the near term, making U.S. energy an enticing investment proposition.
Gain exposure to the companies at the forefront of American energy and the fuels that power the nation with the suite of Range ETFs.
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