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What does a unit of useful energy cost, and how safe is that price?

Fuels are sold in litres, cylinders, barrels and kilowatt-hours. This page converts each to the cost of the energy that actually does the work, after the engine, stove or power plant has taken its losses, so a litre of petrol and a unit of electricity can be compared fairly.

Cost per unit of useful energy, by job

Useful energy = price ÷ energy in one unit ÷ efficiency of the device. Efficiencies are typical values: petrol engine 25%, diesel engine 30%, electric car from the socket 80%, gas stove 60%, induction hob 85%, combined-cycle gas plant 55%.

Benchmark prices

Licences: . In each chart the orange line is the price paid at the time and the blue line the same price in dollars.

What could move each price