Report of the NSF-Stanford workshop on net energy analysis held at Stanford University on August 25--28, 1975

This workshop was convened to afford the 47 participants an opportunity for extended discussions on details of methodology and application of net energy analysis and a chance to seek consensus on various points. The participants were divided into six small working groups and this report contains their verbatim reports. Also included are presentations made by recognized authorities on process, input-output and energetic methodology for net energy analysis. Initially the groups addressed methodological questions relating to net energy analysis such as appropriate measures of net energy, systems boundaries, intertemporal aspects, details of indirect energy calculations and preferred thermodynamic properties. In the second phase of the workshop, questions of a policy nature were addressed. There was strong agreement that net energy analysis is best considered as a companion to economic, environmental and other analyses that might be appropriate to the question at hand. Other possible policy applications suggested for net energy analysis included evaluations of resource depletion, energy conservation options, energy content of foreign trade and energy impact of various laws and regulations. (GRA)