Energy Grades and Historic Economic Growth
Table 1. Energy Grades

Douglas B. Reynolds



Energy Resource Weight Grade (MJ/Kg) Volume Grade (MJ/M3) Area Grade (MJ/Hectare) State Grade
Oil 44 35,000 25 - 2,500 Million Liquid
Natural Gas 53 35 at std 6,000 at 20.7 MPa 25 - 2,500 Million Gas
Coal 18 – 29 23,000 - 35,000 25 - 2,500 Million Solid
Oil Shale up to 4.4 7,000 25 - 2,500 Million Solid
Uranium N/A, field N/A, field Trillions Field
Wood 18 dry 9,000 1 - 12 Million Solid
Ethanol 25.5 20,000 Made from grain Liquid
Methanol 19 15,000 Made from Natural gas Liquid
Hydrogen 141 12 at std, 4,000 when super cooled Made from natural gas, oil, coal or electricity Gas, Liquid (at super cool temperatures)
Solar Energy N/A, field N/A, field 2,500 – 25,000 every hour Field
Grain 15.5 dry 7,000 7,500 – 100,000 every year Solid
Wild Game 15.5 12,500 up to 750 every year Solid
Wild Berries/Nuts up to 15.5 350 - 14,000 up to 7,500 every year Solid