Energy Consumption Per Capita – Part 4

Is The United States Energy Sector Grid-Locked or Amped-Up?

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Exploring Energy Trade

3. Lessons For India

4. The Fight For Global Supply Chains

5. Concluding Remarks

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Bitesize Edition

• In any country’s energy portfolio, trade is a key aspect to explore. A country exporting more than it imports is usually an indication of an energy-secure nation. We find the United States is in this position for certain commodities in the energy sector.

• This came in part due to the US shale revolution which kicked off in 2014. US energy imports dropped sharply in 2014, and exports continue to rise to this day. This paved the way for the United States to achieve a level of energy security that nations could only dream of.

• As some sectors have thrived, others like the nuclear sector, have seen adoption stifled by red tape and regulation. Attitudes are changing now under the Biden administration, with many nuclear plants seeing life extensions and restarts. But how secure would the US be now if its nuclear sector had been built out over the last few decades?

• What lessons can India learn from the US energy profile? I’d argue India can learn what not to do through the US approach to nuclear. One nation they could look to for how to approach nuclear is the Chinese. Find out more below.

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Introduction

There’s more to discuss regarding the energy profile of the United States including energy trade, the role the shale revolution plays in the US, lessons India can learn from these developed countries, and how the world fragmenting is especially relevant to the energy sector. Find out more below.

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Exploring Energy Trade

It is prudent to look at how heavily a country relies on imports for energy, especially in a world where self-sufficiency is prioritised. The trade category I’ll explore is mineral fuels, oils and waxes, which includes the following products, among others:

• Coal

• Lignite

• Peat

• Coke

• Non-Petroleum Gases

• Crude Oil

• Refined Oil

• Petroleum Gases

• Electrical Energy

Below are the imports and exports to and from the United States in 2021, by country traded with.