Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDE)

The Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDE), as a not-for-profit organization, does not devote much of its funding toward marketing, focusing instead on building the largest energy-related database in the world. However, a few promotional materials are available for download, including a tri-fold brochure and a one page flyer. ETDE produces an annual report as part of its IEA reporting requirements, which can also be used for promotion. ETDE annual reports since 2003 are available on the website in PDF.

Users of ETDE's database over the years have remarked favorably on its usefulness many times over. Aspects of ETDE’s Value are summarized and explored through a sample of comments received from users through surveys, feedback, and research studies. Additional comments are always welcomed. Please contribute through the ETDE feedback form.

Another aspect of ETDE's value was demonstrated in an analysis published in 2010 which compared user search results from the specialized scientific database ETDEWEB with search results from the internet search engines Google and Google Scholar. The primary objective of the study was to determine if ETDEWEB continues to bring the user search results that are not being found by these major search engines. Over 40,000 search result records were compared and evaluated from 15 energy-related queries performed on all three systems using identical words/phrases. For the 15 topics in this study, ETDEWEB was shown to bring the user unique results not shown by Google or Google Scholar an average of 86.7% of the time. Observations about the strengths of each system and factors impacting the search results are also shared along with background information and summary tables of the results. If a user knows a very specific title of a document, all three systems are helpful in finding the user a source for the document. But if the user is looking to discover relevant documents on a specific topic, each of the three systems will bring back a considerable volume of data, but quite different in focus. Google is certainly a highly-used and valuable tool to find significant ‘non-specialist’ information, and Google Scholar does help the user focus on scientific disciplines. But if a user’s interest is scientific and energy-specific, ETDEWEB continues to hold a strong position in the energy research, technology and development (RTD) information field and adds considerable value in knowledge discovery. The full study results can be downloaded here.

ETDE's search widget is available for use by others.

Download and install the ETDEWEB search widget by copying and pasting the HTML code shown below:

In 2007, ETDE celebrated its 20th Anniversary. Some special anniversary events were held including a special international conference Advancing Energy Science and Technology through Multilateral Information Exchange. A selection of photographs have been posted.

http://www.etde.org/

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