The energy sector covers all the industries involved in the production, manufacturing, sale and distribution of energy. It includes the oil & gas, coal, nuclear power and renewable power industries.

With a growing global demand for supplies of affordable energy in every corner of the world, as well as an ever-changing landscape of circumstances and preconditions, the energy sector is continuously evolving. With constant evolution in technological possibilities, available infrastructure, economic interests and the geopolitical situation, there is continuous pressure to adapt to the new situation. Existing sectors will evolve to fit the new landscape, and new energy harvesting methods will emerge.

Interfacial phenomena are important in all the energy sectors. Examples of processes that are investigated, characterized or optimized using the information from QCM-D include hydrolysis of cellulose for biofuel production, corrosion of fuel cells, and dye sensitized solar cells. Interfacial tension measurements are also routinely used for quality control of transformer oils.