Comparing Fuel Costs

The following formulas allow you to compare the cost of different fuels based on their heating equivalents and typical heating system efficiency. Fuel Fuel Oil Waste oil Natural Gas Propane Hard Coal Hardwood Softwoods Wood Pellets Wood Chips Green(50% m.c.) Dry (10% m.c.) Corn Biofuels Vegetable oil Electricity Heat equivalent 138,500 Btu/gallon 125,000 Btu/gallon 100,000 Btu/therm 92,500 Btu/gallon 25,000,000 Btu/ton 20,000,000 Btu/cord 12,000,000 Btu/cord 8,200 Btu/lb Burner Efficiency 75% 70% 75% 75% 60% 60% 60% 80% Cost - $/Million Btu $/MBtu = $/gal x 9.6 $/MBtu = $/gal x 11.4 $/MBtu = $/therm x 13.3 $/MBtu = $/gal x 14.4 $/MBtu = $/ton 15.0 $/MBtu = $/cord 12 $/MBTu = $/cord 7.2 $/MBtu = $/ton 13.1

4,000 Btu/lb 7,400 Btu/lb 8,200 Btu/lb

50% 60% 80%

$/MBtu = $/ton 4.0 $/MBtu = $/ton 8.8 $/MBtu = $/ton 13.1

120,000 Btu/gal 3,412 Btu/kilowatt-hour

70% 100%

$/MBtu = $/gal x 11.9 $/MBtu = $/kw-hr x 293

Prepared by: John W. Bartok, Jr., Agricultural Engineer University of Connecticut, Storrs CT 06269-4087