#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consum

2018 Manufacturing Energy Consumption 
U.S. Energy Information Administration

2018 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey

December 2021

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

U.S. Energy Information Administration

Office of Energy Statistics

U.S. Department of Energy

Washington, DC 20585

This publication is available at

https://www.eia.gov/consumption/manufacturing

This report was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA's data and analyses are independent of approval by any or employee of the United States Government. The views in this report therefore should not be construed arepresenting those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

What is the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS)?MECS is the only nationally representative source for estimates of energy-related characteristics, conexpenditures for manufacturing establishments in the United States.We collect data for manufacturing establishments mainly through web questionnaires.• We drew the 2018 MECS sample size of approximately 15,000 establishments from a national sample frame rep

manufacturing payroll. We estimate the sample to represent at least that percentage of manufacturing energy con

• This sample allows us to report separate estimates of energy use for 21 three-digit manufacturing subsectors and 

industries, as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

We have conducted the MECS periodically since 1985.• The 2018 MECS is the 10th release.

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Key takeaways from our 2018 MECS results • Natural gas and hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs)* have continued to increase their shares of total consumption.• Gross output has continued to outpace manufacturing energy consumption, resulting in an overall decrease in en• From 1998 to 2018, manufacturing energy intensity decreased by 26%. During this same period, manufacturing g

12%, indicating continued energy efficiency gains.

• As of 2018, nonfuel consumption (or the use of energy as a feedstock or raw input rather than for fuel) is most co

subsector.

• Four subsectors—chemicals, petroleum and coal products, paper, and primary metals—accounted for most of ma

consumption.

• Most subsectors cannot easily switch from natural gas to alternative fuels such as coal, electricity, and renewable

Long-term fuel-switching requires significant capital investment, such as purchasing new equipment.

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

* HGLs include ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, normal butane, butylene, ethane-propane mixtures, propane-butane mixtures, and isobutane produced at refineries or natural gas processing plants, including plants that fractionate raw natural 

gas liquids (NGLs). MECS excludes natural gasoline from its definition because natural gasoline is not used as an energy 

source—fuel or feedstock—at manufacturing establishments.Note: The 2018 MECS final data supersede the 2018 preliminary data previously published. For example, the MECS preliminary data showed an increase in energy intensity; however, the final data for the 2018 MECS show that manufacturing energy intensity slightly decreased. 
U.S. Energy Information Administration #MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Table of ContentsManufacturing energy consumption Fuel-switching and capability Expenditures and pricing Manufacturing floorspace and establishment counts Energy management Top energy consuming subsectors References and additional information 
Manufacturing energy consumption

Manufacturing is the physical, mechanical, or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products. Manufacturing operations are generally conducted in facilities described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and material-handling equipment. addition, assembling the components of manufactured products is considered manufacturing, for example, blending materials, such as lubricating oils, plastics, resins, or liquors. An establishment is an economic unit at a single location where manufacturing is performed. Manufacturing establishments are classified by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS), which categorizes establishments according to the types of production processes they primuse. Manufacturers have two types of energy consumption—fuel and nonfuel. Fuel consumption is the use 

any substance that can be burned to produce heat and power or to generate electricity. Nonfuelconsumption is the use of energy as feedstock or raw material input.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Natural gas and HGLs continue to increase their shares of total consumptio

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

2002

2006

201020142018

22,394 

20,897 

18,358 

18,834 

19,436 

natural 

gas 

HGLs

(excluding 

natural 

gasoline)

net 

electricity

coal, coke 

and 

breeze 

naphtha 

and 

fuel oils 

other

Proportion of total consumption by energy source and yearpercentage

total consumption

trillion British thermal units • MECS estimates that total manu

consumption in 2018 totaled 19,thermal units, a 3% increase fro

• Natural gas and hydrocarbon ga

continued to increase their sharerising from 43% of consumption 2018.

• Conversely, the use of coal, coa

well as naphtha and fuel oils has cycle since 2002.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Gross output continues to outpace manufacturing energy consumption

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Indexes of gross output, fuel only, fuel plus feedstock, and employees, 1998–2018

Index: 1998 = 1

index of gross outputindex of fuel plus feedstockindex of fuelindex of employees

2002 2006 2010 2014 2018

0.000.200.400.600.801.001.20

1998

• Gross output has increased from 

consumption and total manufactdecreased.

• Manufacturing gross output incr

2014 and 2018 while energy con3%. The disparity in growth ratedecrease in energy intensity from 

• From 1998 to 2018, manufactur

decreased by 26%. During this smanufacturing gross output incrcontinued long-term energy efficmanufacturing.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Nonfuel consumption was most common in the chemicals subsector

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

• Petroleum and coal products, chemicals, and primary metals account for more than 90% of feedstock use in ma• Petroleum and coal products, chemicals, primary metals, paper, and food account for more than 84% of fuel useManufacturing energy fuel and nonfuel (feedstock) consumption by subsector, 2018percentage

total: 19.4 total non

Note: To adjust for double counting, 1.6 quadrillion Btu are netted out of fuel consumption (MECS Table 1.2).

17% 5% 14% 22% 6%

2%

10% 6% 4% 10% 3%

petroleum and coal products

22%

chemicals

37%

primary 

metals

8% food

6%

paper

11%

balance

13%

fuel

nonfuel

fuel nonfuel fuel

nonfuel

fuel

nonfuel

fuel fuel fuel

nonmetallic minerals

4%
U.S. Energy Information Administration

The South accounted for 80% of U.S. nonfuel energy consumption

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

273

641

182

total nonf

trillion B

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Northeast

Midwest

South

West

United States

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Nonfuel (feedstock) use of energy sources by value of shipments and receipts and employment size, 2018percentage

Value of shipments and receipts (million U.S. dollars) Employment size

• The South had the highest nonfuel consumption (4,513 trillion British thermal units [TBtu]). Most of the consump

establishments with a value of shipments and receipts over $500 million. Nonfuel consumption was more spread 

Overall in the entire United States, establishments with 500—999 employees accounted for the largest percenta

(28%).

• Nonfuel use of energy sources was lowest in the West Census Region (182 TBtu). More than half (57%) of the c

establishments with a value of shipments and receipts under $20 million, and 75% of the nonfuel consumption c

less than 50 employees.

under 20 20-49 50-99 100-249 250-499 500 and over under 50 50-99 100-249 250-499 500-999 1,000 and over
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Byproducts in fuel consumption vary by sector

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

• For total U.S. manufacturing, wa

still gas, refinery gas, off gas, vethe largest share of byproducts (44%). Waste gas was the largechemical (96%) and petroleum ain 2018.

• Pulping liquor, or black liquor, ac

manufacturing byproducts, and tconsumed 854 trillion British the857 TBtu.

• The primary metals sector consu

(93%) of the blast furnace and cbyproducts.

Selected byproducts used in fuel consumption by sector

blast furnace/coke oven gaseswaste gaspetroleum cokepulping liquor or black liquorwood chips and barkwaste oils/tars and waste materials

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

petroleum and coal products

paper

chemicals

wood products

primary metals

all other sectors

total U.S. manufacturing

percentage
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Five sectors accounted for more than three-fourths of offsite-produced fue

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

0

500

1,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,500

0

500

1,000

0

500

1,000

0

500

1,000

0

500

1,000

• Chemicals, petroleu

primary metals, foodconsumers of offsitefor 8,596 trillion Briti11,142 TBtu total co

• The Northeast regio

produced fuel consu

Northeast

South West

Midwest

D D

Offsite-produced fuel consumption by region and top five consuming sectorstrillion British thermal units (TBtu)

D = withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual establishments

chemicalspetroleum and coal productsprimary metalsfoodpaper

* Offsite-produced fuel is a measure of fuel consumption, which is equivalent to purchased fuel, and it includes fuel produced offsite a

excludes fuel produced and consumed onsite, energy used as raw material input, and electricity losses. An example of onsite-producproduction in the pulping process to make paper and the subsequent use of the produced black liquor as a fuel at pulp and paper mil
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0 5,000 10,000 15,000

indirect uses

direct uses–total process

direct uses–total nonprocess

end use not reported

total fuel consumption

Natural gas was the most used fuel for all end uses

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

End uses of fuel consumptiontrillion British thermal units (TBtu)

conventional boiler use 

combined heat and power 

cogeneration process

process heating

process cooling and refrigeration

machine drive 

electro-chemical processes 

other process use

facility HVAC

facility lighting 

other facility support

onsite transportation

conventional electricity generation 

other nonprocess use

net electricityresidual fuel oildistillate fuel oil and diesel fuelnatural gashydrocarbon gas liquids(excluding natural gasoline)coal (excluding coal coke and breeze)other

Note: Some of the data could not be represented in this chart to protect individual data from disclosure, or the estimate was less than 0.5. HVAC = heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

• Natural gas accounte

consumption (6,362 tr[TBtu]) in 2018, a 39% 

• Natural gas use for in

combined heat and pofossil fuels increased 92%.

• Compared with indire

uses, direct total procreportable consumptio
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Fuel consumption varied by value of shipments and receipts and by emplo

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Fuel consumption by value of shipments and receipts and by employment size, 2018trillion British thermal units

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000

under 20

20-4950-99

100-249250-499

500 and over

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000

under 50

50-99

100-249250-499500-999

1,000 and over

Employment size

Value of shipments and receipts (millions U.S. dollars)

other net electricity natural gas coal, coke, and breeze residual and distillate fuel oil 

hydrocarbon gas liquids (excluding natural gasoline) 

• Fuel consumption varie

and receipts and by emincreased as the value increased and employm

• Establishments with val

of over $500 million had consumption (7,876 trill[Tbtu]). Almost half of thfuels (45%).

• Manufacturing establish

employees had the highTBtu.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Consumption ratios of fuel were highest in the South and lowest in the No

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Consumption ratios of fuel, 2018

02468 01

Consumption per employee million British thermal units (MMBtu)

Consumption per dollar of value added thousand British thermal units (MBtu) 

Consumption (thousand Britis

• Chemicals, petroleum refining, and paper were most prevalent in the South Census Region while primary metals 

in the Midwest Census Region.

• In the South Census Region, consumption per employee was 2,246 million British thermal units (MMBtu), which 

national ratio. The Northeast had the smallest consumption per employee (519 MMBtu), which was 60% lower th

• Consumption per dollar value added was 5.6 thousand British thermal units (MBtu), and the consumption per do

2.6 MBtu. Similarly, the South had the largest and the Northeast had the smallest of these ratios.

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500

U.S. total

Northeast

Midwest

South

West
Fuel-switching capability

Manufacturing establishments have short-term capability to use substitute energy sources in place of those actually consumed. Capability to use substitute energy sources means that the establishment’s combustors (for example, boilers, furnaces, ovens, and blast furnaces) had the machinery or equipment either in place or available for installation so that they could introduce substitutions within 30 days without extensive modifications. Fuel-switching capability does not depend on the relative prices of energy sources; it depends only on the characteristics of the equipment and certain legal constraints.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Most sectors cannot easily switch from natural gas to another fuel

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Non-switchable natural gas percentage used by sectorpercentage

• Overall, the percentage 

switched in the manufac

• Apparel (50%), textile m

mills (55%) had the smathat could not be switch

• Conversely, switching fr

(such as coal, fuel oils, liquids [HGLs]) has limitsector is most likely to s

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

food

beverage and tobacco products

textile mills

textile product mills

apparel

leather and allied products

wood products

paper

printing and related support

petroleum and coal products

chemicals

plastics and rubber products

nonmetallic mineral products

primary metals

fabricated metal products

machinery

computer and electronic products

electrical equipment, appliances, and components

transportation equipment

furniture and related products

miscellaneous

total United States
U.S. Energy Information Administration

As a result of equipment limitations, most natural gas fuel cannot be switched wi

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000

equipment is not capable of using another fuel

switching adversely affects the products

unavailable alternative fuel supply

environmental restrictions

long-term contract in place

unavailable storage for alternative fuels

another reason

combination of reasons

don't know/didn't answer

• The most common reason manu

switch from natural gas was that not capable of using another fue

• A combination of reasons (204 b

and an unavailable alternative fuwere also common responses.

• About 10% of the non-switchabl

respondents either didn’t know o

Natural gas fuel-switching limitations by reasonbillion cubic feet (Bcf)
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Fuel-switching capabilities were largest for distillate fuel oil and coal-consuming 

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

22% 17%

5%

2%

9%

6%

-2,000-1,000

0

1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000

Establishments with capability to switch to alternative energy sources by fuel, 2018number and percentage of manufacturing establishments

electricity

coal

hydrocarbon gas liquids (excluding natural gasoline)

natural gas

distillate fuel oil

residual fuel oil

• Although fewest in number, the 

distillate fuel oil had the largest establishments that could switcsources (22%). Coal establishmlargest percentage (17%).

• Electricity had the lowest perce

that could switch to alternative 
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000

electricity

natural gas

coal*

distillate fuel oil*

residual fuel oil*

Small price changes may cause a switch to alternative fuels

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Levels of price difference that would cause a switch to an alternative fuel, 2018

number of manufacturing establishments

estimate 

cannot 

be provided

would not 

switch 

because of price

1% - 10% 11% - 25% 26% - 50% over 50% would switch to 

more expensive 

substitute

HGLs 

(excluding 

natural gasoline) 

* Note: Some data has been withheld for disclosure or quality issues.

• For the 168 establishm

68% would switch to an price increased 1% - 10

• If alternative fuel prices 

11% of establishments fuel and 10% of establishydrocarbon gas liquids capable of switching fuesource.
Expenditures and pricing

Expenditures and pricing include funds spent for energy purchased and paid for or delivered to a manufacturer during a calendar year. For the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS), expenditures include state and local taxes and delivery charges.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Electricity per MMBtu was often the most expensive energy source

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Average prices of selected purchased energy sources by value of shipments and receipts and employment size, 2018U.S. dollars per million British thermal units ($/MMBtu)

$500 million 

and over

under $20

million

$20-$49

million

$50-$99

million

$100-$249

million

$250-$499

million

Under 50 50-99 100-249 250-499 5

electricitycoalhydrocarbon gas liquids (excludingnatural gasoline)natural gasdistillate fuel oil

residual fuel oil

total value of shipments and receipts number of employees

$0$5

$10$15$20$25$30

$0$5

$10$15$20$25$30

• As the value of shipments and receipts increased, the price of electricity decreased. Electricity was the most exp

value of shipments and receipts below $250 million. For shipments and receipts $250 million or greater, distillate expensive.

• Electricity was most expensive for establishments with less than 500 employees, hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs

establishments with 500-999 employees, and distillate fuel oil was most expensive for establishments with 1,000 
U.S. Energy Information Administration

The average price of weighted quantity purchased energy varied by region

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Average prices of select purchased energy sources by region, 2018U.S. dollars per million British thermal units ($/MMBtu)

U.S. total Northeast Midwest South West

electricitycoalHGLs (excludingnatural gasoline)natural gastotal diesel fuel and distillate fuel oilresidual fuel oilkerosenemotor gasoline(excluding highway

usage)

coal cokehydrogenpetroleum coke

$0$5

$10$15$20$25$30$35

$49.29

U.S.

$233.56

Northeast

$124.21

Midwest

$41.75

South

Average price of acetylene by region$/MMBtu

* data 

withheld

West

• Kerosene, electricity, an

the most expensive fuegas, petroleum coke, anexpensive.

• The most expensive av

source was for acetylenThis price was more thaaverage price of $49.29bought in relatively smacylinders. It is produced Coast, and then it is traacross the country, leadacetylene in the Northecosts in the South.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Most electricity purchased came from local utilities, most natural gas from 

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Quantity, number of establishments, and expenditures of purchased electricity and natural gas, 2018

778,396

million 

kilowatthours

179,894

establishments 

$53 billion

expenditures 

7,023

billion cubic feet 

113,197

establishments

$28 billion

expenditures 

electricity

natural gas

from local utility

from local utility

from sources other than local utility

from sources otherthan local utility

• When considering the 

establishments, and eelectricity, most electr

• Although more than h

use natural gas from tnatural gas purchased (81%) were from sour

• Energy-intensive indu

refining, petrochemicahave a tendency to pugas from sources otheparty suppliers).
Manufacturing floorspace and 

establishment countsThe Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) collects data about how many buildings are on each establishment site as well as the approximate square footage of the buildings onsite.Buildings include structures enclosed by walls extending from the foundation to theroof; parking garages, even if not totally enclosed by walls and a roof; or structures erected on pillars to elevate the first fully enclosed level.Excluded buildings are structures (other than the exceptions noted above) that arenot totally enclosed by walls and a roof; mobile homes and trailers, even if they house manufacturing activity; structures not ordinarily intended to be entered by humans, such as storage tanks; or non-buildings that consume energy (such as pumps and construction sites).
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Fabricated metal products establishments were the most numerous of all in

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Percentage of establishments and floorspace by manufacturing sector, 2018

163,188

reporting

manufacturing 

establishments

fabricated metal all other sectors, 22%products, 21%

food, 8%

machinery, 9%

miscellaneous, 8%

printing and related support, 7%

nonmetallic mineral products, 7%

wood products, 5%

chemicals, 5%

furniture and related products, 5%

plastics and rubber products, 5%

transportation equipment, 10%

chemicals, 8% plast

fabricated metal products, 14%

food, 10%

machinery, 9%

11.3 billion

manufacturing 

floorspace

in square feet

• Fabricated metal products, machinery, and food manufacturing accounted for 38% of all manufacturing establish

manufacturing floorspace.

• Although the manufacture of transportation equipment only accounted for 4% of manufacturing establishments, i

manufacturing floorspace.

manufacturing establishmentspercentage 

manufacturing floorspacepercentage 
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Paper manufacturing establishments occupy the largest floorspace, apparel establsmallest

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Number of establishments and average enclosed floorspaceper establishment by subsector, 2018

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000

apparel

printing and related support

leather and allied products

miscellaneous

textile product mills

fabricated metal products

nonmetallic mineral products

furniture and related products

wood products

computer and electronic products

machinery

beverage and tobacco products

food

petroleum and coal products

electrical equipment, appliances, and components

textile mills

plastics and rubber products

chemicals

transportation equipment

primary metals

paper

number of establishmentsaverage enclosed floorspace (sf)

• On average paper (223

metals (202,492 sf), an(176,604 sf) were the la

• Leather and allied prod

related support (28,686 establishments were th

average enclosed floorspacenumber of establishments
Energy management

The participation, awareness, and implementation of energy management activities at manufacturing establishments.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

The majority of manufacturing establishments were working to improve en

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

0%

20%40%60%80%

100%

ENERGY STAR®

Better Buildings, Better Plants Superior Energy Performance other energy consumption is becoming a higher priority 

for the establishment

management sometimes supports projects to improve energy consumption

energy consumption is rarely a part of management decision-making

don't know

participation in energy consumption improvement programspercentage 

management decision-making processpercentage 

Energy consumption improvement efforts in manufacturing establishments, 2018

43%

9%

7%4%

• For more than half of man

(61%), either energy conshigher priority (22%) or the projects to improve energy 

• ENERGY STAR was the m

consumption improvement manufacturing establishmeprogram.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Almost half of all manufacturing establishments participated in general energy m

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Participation in general energy management activities, 2018

48%

of establishments 

participated in energymanagement activities

0 20,000 40,000 60,000

steam production/system

direct process cooling, refrigeration

direct/indirect process heating

direct machine drive

compressed air systems

facility HVAC

facility lighting

training

technical information

financial assistance

technical assistance

energy audit or assessment

installation or retrofit to improve 

energy efficiency affecting: 

general energy-saving technologies, 2018percentage of participating establishments

adjustable 

speed motors 

oxy-fuel 

firing

computer control of 

processes or major 

energy-using equipment

computer control 

of building wide 

environment

waste heat 

recovery

24% 15% 13% 5% 2%

Note: More than one general energy-saving technology may apply.

• Almost half (48%) of all ma

participated in general eneThe installation or retrofit tfor facility lighting was mosestablishments).

• Adjustable speed motors (

processes or major energyused most often.

number of establishmentspercentage

energy management activity type of activity

number of establishments
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Energy management activities were most common in the primary metals su

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

leather and allied products

furniture and related products

miscellaneous

nonmetallic mineral products

printing and related support

textile product mills

fabricated metal products

wood products

apparel

textile mills

transportation equipment

food

electrical equipment, appliances, and components

 beverage and tobacco products

computer and electronic products

paper

machinery

petroleum and coal products

chemicals

plastics and rubber products

primary metals

Energy management activities and energy audits by subsector, 2018subsector

• Primary metals establis

and rubber products (6percentage of participatactivities.

• Energy audits, a popula

activity, were used mosproducts (33%), plasticand apparel (30%) subs

participation in energy management activitiesparticipation in energy audits 

percentage
U.S. Energy Information Administration

More than one-fourth of primary metals establishments had submetering c

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

Top manufacturing subsectors with submetering capability by fuel, 2018

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

beverage and tobacco products

primary metals

paper

chemicals

plastics and rubber products

food

petroleum and coal products

computer and electronic products

textile mills

other natural gas electricity

26%

22%

22%

17%

15%

15%

11%

10%

9%

Participation in submeteringpercentage • Only 9% of manufa

submetering capabmetals (26%), papesectors had the largsubmetering capab

• Petroleum and coal 

where natural gas selectricity submeter

• Submetering using 

paper sector.

percentage of manufacturing establishments
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Less than 1% of manufacturing establishments had cogeneration technolog

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

0 200 400 600 800

steam turbines supplied by 

either conventional or 

fluidized bed boilers

combined-cycle 

combustion turbines

conventional combustion 

turbines with heat recovery

internal combustion engines 

with heat recovery

steam turbines supplied by 

heat recovered from 

high-temperature processes

Cogeneration technologies, 2018number of establishments Cogeneration technologies by subsector

percentage of establishments

pulp mills11 establishmentspetroleum refineries70 establishmentspaper mills, except newsprint91 establishmentsall othermanufacturing1,552 establishments

61%

1%

42%49%

Note: More than one cogeneration technology may apply.

• Although only 1% of a

establishments had cused in larger percensectors. Pulp mills (61(49%), and paper millpercentages of cogen

• Steam turbines suppl

fluidized bed boilers wcogeneration technolo
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Cogeneration was the largest source of onsite generation

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

136,187

MMkWh

8,004

MMkWh

20,067

MMkWh

95,722

MMkWh

U.S. total Northeast Midwest South 

cogeneration, 96%

renewable energy (excluding wood and other biomass), 1%

other, 3%

Electricity: components of onsite generation, 2018percentage of million kilowatthours (MMkWh)• Cogeneration was the most prominent in the South (97%) and Midwest (96%).• Most (96%) electricity onsite generation came from cogeneration. Cogeneration was the most common compone

regions.

• Renewable energy (4%) and other sources (9%) were used for onsite generation most in the Northeast.

87%

4%

2% 2% 2% 

96% 97% 90

9% 1%
Top energy-consuming subsectors

These subsectors are typically the most energy-intensive within manufacturing, and they usually consume large amounts of energy for nonfuel (feedstock) purposes. 
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Four subsectors accounted for most manufacturing energy consumption

#MECS2018 | www.eia.gov/consumption/ma

chemicals, 37%

petroleum and coal products, 22%

paper, 11%

primary metals, 8%

all other subsectors, 23%

19,436 

trillion British 

thermal units (TBtu)

total U.S. consumption

Proportion of total energy consumption by subsector and regionpercentage

• The chemical, petro

paper, and primary accounted for 77% consumption in 201

• Manufacturing cons

South, and chemicfor more than half (consumption.

• Petroleum refinerie

energy consumptioproducts.

• Iron and steel mills 

energy consumptio

Northeast

1,223

TBtu

14%

22%

16% 13%

35%

23%

18%

6% 20%

32%

Midwest

4,300

TBtu

11,292

TBtu

South

2,092

TBtu

West

51%

20%

13%

4%

13% 8%

46%

8%

4%

34%
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Chemicals had the most establishments and energy consumption

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Number of establishments, energy consumption, and nonfuel energy consumption, 2018

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000

chemicals

primary metals

paper

petroleum and coal products

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 0 1,000 

number of establishments total energy consumption total nonfuel e

• Among the top four energy consuming sectors, chemicals manufacturing had the most establishments and the la

energy consumption.

• Primary metals establishments had the second largest number of establishments (3,226), but the lowest total en

trillion Btu).

• Petroleum and coal products had the fewest establishments (1,883) but had the second highest total energy con

number of establishments trillion British thermal units (Tbtu) trillion Br
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Petroleum and coal products had the highest energy consumption per empl

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Consumption ratios of fuel by sector, 2018

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 2 4 6 

United States

petroleum and coal products

paper

chemicals

primary metals

Consumption per employee Consumption per dollar of value added Consumption per dollar of v

• Consumption per employee was highest for petroleum and coal products (30,306 million British thermal units [M

over 23 times more than the U.S. manufacturing consumption per employee (1,285 MMBtu). The consumption p

also highest for petroleum and coal products.

• Paper manufacturing had the highest energy intensity as measured by consumption per dollar of value of shipme

thermal units [MBtu]), however, most of this energy consumed was renewables, particularly wood residues and bprocessing such as wood chips, bark, and sawdust. The second-highest consumption per dollar of value of shipm

manufacturing.

million British thermal units (MMBtu) thousand British thermal units (MBtu) thousand British th
U.S. Energy Information Administration

ENERGY STAR® was the most common energy consumption improvemen

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0%

10%20%30%40%50%

paper petroleum and

coal products

chemicals primary metals

Energy management decision-making process, 2018percentage of manufacturing establishments energy consumption 

becoming higher priority for establishmentmanagement sometimes supports projects to improve energy consumptionenergy consumption is rarely a part of management decision-making

0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%

paper petroleum and

coal products

chemicals primary metals

Participation in programs dedicated to improving energy consumption, 2018percentage of manufacturing establishments

ENERGY STAR

Better Buildings, Better Plants Superior Energy Performance other 

• ENERGY STAR was th

consumption improvemeach of the top energy-participated in the prog

• Manufacturing establish

products had the largesconsumption becoming 

• Petroleum refining had 

energy consumption be(60%) within the petrolemanufacturing sector. 
References and additional information
U.S. Energy Information Administration

ReferencesAll graphs are sourced from Form EIA-846A/B, Manufacturing Energy Consumption SurveGross output estimates are sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Gross Output series.Manufacturing employee estimates are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, based on ofrom the Annual Survey of Manufacturers.Please direct questions about the MECS to Tom Lorenz, Survey Manager, thomas.lorenz@

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U.S. Energy Information Administration

For more informationU.S. Energy Information Administration homepage | www.eia.govManufacturing Energy Consumption Survey | www.eia.gov/consumption/manufacturingConsumption and Efficiency | https://www.eia.gov/consumptionToday in Energy | www.eia.gov/todayinenergy

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