energienergi

Energienergi is a term used in some Nordic energy discussions to denote the total amount of energy that goes into providing energy services. In practice it describes the embodied or lifecycle energy required to obtain, convert, and deliver energy from resource extraction to end use. The concept is related to, but distinct from, exergy and from primary energy. While primary energy accounts for the energy content at the source, energienergi emphasizes the energy input across the entire supply chain.

A typical energienergi assessment includes extraction and processing of fuels, transportation, power generation losses, grid transmission and distribution losses, and end-use energy conversion and consumption inefficiencies. The result can be expressed as an energy balance, such as the total MJ of input energy per unit of delivered energy (or per service). Boundaries vary by study, making comparisons challenging.

Applications include evaluating energy system performance, informing policy on decarbonization and energy security, and guiding design choices in buildings, industry, and electricity systems. Proponents argue it highlights the hidden energy costs of energy supply and can improve decisions on efficiency and demand reduction. Critics note that without standard definitions and consistent boundaries, energienergi can confuse policy discussions and obscure the physics of energy quality captured by exergy analyses.

In summary, energienergi is a useful but non-standard concept for analyzing the energy investments behind energy services, complementary to standard energy accounting and life-cycle assessment.