The most important groups of fuels are fossil fuels, bio-fuels, hydrogen and nuclear fuel (uranium). Of these fuels, only bio-fuels and hydrogen are strictly renewable, but in both cases, this really depends on the energy source used to produce it. We have traditionally been heavily dependent on fossil fuels (first coal, then oil and now natural gas) and more recently on nuclear power. In the future, we will need a more sustainable range of fuels for all potential uses. New technologies such as fuel cells may require a wider range of fuels (e.g. hydrogen) and widen the range of applications for which fuels may be used (e.g. methanol-fuelled fuel cells to power laptops). There are many controversial topics surrounding fuels, from carbon emissions and climate change through the potential for bio-fuel crops to compete with food crops to the whole debate around nuclear power generation. - Description added by: David Lockie

Industry by its nature tends to be a large-scale consumer of carbon-based energy and a producer of carbon-embedded products. Transport, electricity, heating, cooling, buildings, materials and components and IT and communications are all significant contributors of carbon emissions at an industrial scale. The good news is that considerable savings, efficiencies and benefits can be leveraged at the industrial scale, increasing overall profitability. Click the picture to the right to explore our interactive industrial environment. - Description added by: David Lockie