Better Energy Debate Starts With Better Definitions
Energy transitions are difficult enough without allowing terminology to obscure what is actually happening.
Before accepting a claim about a country’s dependence on fossil fuels, ask:
Dependence measured against what?
Before celebrating a renewable percentage, ask:
Percentage of what?
Before comparing two countries, ask:
Are both numbers measuring the same thing?
And before treating electricity as synonymous with energy, remember all the fuel being consumed outside the electrical system.
The difference between primary energy and electricity generation is therefore more than an academic definition.
It changes how we understand renewable energy.
It changes how we understand electrification.
It changes how we interpret national statistics.
And ultimately, it changes how we judge whether an energy transition is actually happening.
