ABSTRACT
Energy analysis has assumed an apparent major importance in the planning of energy use. The authors argue that debates over the detailed aspects of energy analysis and its applications are misplaced in face of the absence of any real assessment of the purpose of energy analysis. They offer the view that energy analysis fails to achieve its stated purposes and that economic analysis already provides a rational base for planning energy use, making energy analysis either superfluous or misleading.
This chapter is a shortened version of PSERC Discussion Paper 75-03 available from the University of Leicester
Authors’ note
We are heavily indebted to Peter Chapman of the Open University for his generous help in supplying documentation and for an exchange of views in private correspondence. If Dr Chapman’s name figures prominently in this chapter it is not a reflection of any victimisation on our part but of his prolific input to the energy analysis literature!
