Energy

The energy industry encompasses all industries involved in the production and sale of energy, including fuel extraction, manufacturing, refining, and distribution. Modern society consumes large amounts of fuel, and the energy industry plays a crucial role in the infrastructure and maintenance of society in almost all countries.

In particular, the energy industry includes:

• The petroleum industry, which consists of oil companies, petroleum refiners, fuel transport, and end-user sales at gas stations.
• The gas industry, which includes natural gas extraction, coal gas production, as well as distribution and sales.
• The electrical power industry, which covers electricity generation, electric power distribution, and sales.
• The coal industry.
• The nuclear power industry.
• The renewable energy industry, which comprises alternative and sustainable energy companies, including those involved in hydroelectric power, wind power, and solar power generation, as well as the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alternative fuels.
• The traditional energy industry, based on the collection and distribution of firewood, which is particularly common in poorer countries for cooking and heating.

The 21st century has brought with it a massive surge in globalization, and the power sector has been just as affected as any other. Energy security has been a transnational endeavor for many years, especially for countries that rely heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. Prominent example is Japan with its reliance on Middle Eastern oil imports. Around the world, there is a complex web of cross-border energy connections and development partnerships, with energy playing an increasingly prominent role in international diplomacy.

Producing energy to sustain human needs is an essential social activity, and considerable effort goes into this process. While most of this effort is focused on increasing the production of electricity and oil, newer methods of producing usable energy from available resources are being explored. One such effort involves exploring ways to produce hydrogen fuel from water. Although hydrogen use is environmentally friendly, its production requires energy, and existing technologies for its production are not very efficient. Research is underway to explore the enzymatic decomposition of biomass.