We get questions

The Centre for Energy’s portal is loaded with factual and statistical information about Canada’s energy system. But we still get questions, like this one.

Q:  I am looking for information on the efficiency of generating electricity using nuclear fission, wind power, solar power and combustion of fossil fuels.

A: According to the National Petroleum Council report Facing the Hard Truths about Energy , coal and natural gas have the following thermal efficiencies:

Coal	37 to 44 per cent efficient
Natural Gas Combustion Turbine	33 to 35 per cent efficient
Natural Gas Combined Cycle	50 to 54 per cent efficient

The article from Scientific American, New Solar Cell Efficiency Record Set, indicates conventional solar photovoltaic cells are about 15 to 17 per cent efficient, although some experimental cells are more than 40 per cent efficient (but unavailable commercially).

The Sustainable Energy for All article Thermal Power Plant Efficiency reports wind efficiency of 40 per cent and nuclear of 35 per cent, but because there are no sources listed for the article, we can’t guarantee their accuracy.