Why is oil different from renewable energy?
Quick Answer
Oil and renewables differ fundamentally: oil stores energy chemically (high density, portable, dispatchable), while renewables generate electricity (lower density, location-dependent, intermittent). Oil's energy density is ~10,000 Wh/L vs batteries at ~250-700 Wh/L. These aren't just technical details—they explain why electrifying everything is hard and why oil persists where portability and density matter.
Key Numbers
Full Analysis
In-depth exploration with citations and evidence
Fundamental Differences#
Energy Carriers vs. Energy Sources
- Oil: Energy stored in chemical bonds, extracted from ground
- Renewables: Energy flows from sun/wind, converted to electricity
Key Characteristics
| Property | Oil/Gasoline | Renewables + Batteries |
|---|---|---|
| Energy density | ~10,000 Wh/L | ~250-700 Wh/L |
| Portability | Excellent | Limited by weight |
| Dispatchability | On-demand | Intermittent |
| Storage | Tanks (cheap) | Batteries (expensive) |
| Infrastructure | Existing, massive | Building out |
Why Energy Density Matters#
Aviation Example
A 747 carries ~200,000 L of jet fuel
- Jet fuel: ~2 billion Wh of energy
- Equivalent batteries: Would weigh plane down completely
- Even at theoretical limits, battery planes limited to short routes
Shipping Example
Container ships carry fuel for weeks of voyage
- Batteries would consume most cargo capacity
- Alternative fuels (ammonia, methanol) less energy-dense too
Where Renewables Win#
Despite oil's density advantage, renewables can be superior for:
- Stationary power: No portability needed
- Light vehicles: Battery weight acceptable for cars
- Grid flexibility: Solar/wind + storage increasingly economic
- Lifetime costs: No fuel costs, lower maintenance
The Hybrid Future#
Rather than "oil vs. renewables," the future likely includes:
- Electricity for what it's good at (heating, cars, grid)
- Dense fuels for what they're good at (aviation, shipping)
- Hydrogen or synthetic fuels bridging the gap
Steelmanned Counterarguments
We present the strongest version of opposing viewpoints—not strawmen.
1Batteries will soon match oil's energy density.
Physics limits how much energy batteries can store. Even theoretical maximum batteries would be ~3,000 Wh/L—still below gasoline. For most cars this is adequate, but for trucks, ships, and planes it remains a fundamental constraint.