Carbon Flashcards
UK energy mix?
Dependent on North Sea oil and gas - large reserves reducing dependence on other nations (middle east) BUT expensive to extract
Nuclear power - Hinkley Point C
Wind farms - Hornsea
Imports lots of gas from Norway
Committed to 40% reduction in emissions by 2030
Fracking heavily opposed
Have technology for ‘clean coal’ but coal lost its political favour
43% of electricity generated is from renewables
Norway’s energy mix?
Successful in energy security
45% of energy from renewables - mostly hydroelectric power - 600 HEP sites
Remainder from gas and oil reserves
Able to export extra to the UK - boosts economy and standard of living through government spending
Energy consumption increased largely since 1990s so may be less successful as use of renewables have also dropped
Advantageous location as has access to reserves of oil and gas as well as having plentiful rainfall as a result of mountains so good for consistent energy from HEP sites
Profits from selling fossil fuels go into a fund for preparing for life without fossil fuels which increases sustainability and the success of future energy security
USA’s energy mix?
Large quantities of energy from fracking - strategic location due to large physical availability - unconventional fossil fuel
Less reliant on other countries for energy e.g. middle east
Large environmental concerns as a result of fracking
Still reliant on middle eastern oil
Future political shifts in the middle east may put their energy security at risk
High level of development
Reduced energy consumption by 7% in one year (2019 -2020)
Germany’s energy mix?
Reliant on gas pipeline between Russia and Germany - Nordstream
Energy security at risk due to current political and global tensions with Russia
Russia’s energy mix?
Energy security at risk as they fall out of favour politically so may make less
Lessens the economy so less spent on country and less money for production of new technologies for a more diverse energy mix
Economic sanctions also make it harder for the Russian economy as a result of the war with Ukraine
Players: National Governments
Meet international obligations whilst securing energy supplies
Can change pricing my applying tariffs or through taxes
Choice over what energy source they use - BUT can be influence by consumers through protests
Less of an impact sometimes due to privatisation of energy sources
Denmark - positive approach to renewable energy with the largest proportion from wind
Also, import resources from friendly neighbours
Players: OPEC
Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Control 81% of oil reserves globally
Aim to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its members to ensure stabilisation of oil markets to ensure an efficient economic and regular supply of petroleum and to secure steady income for producers and a fair return for investors
However act as a monopoly over oil leading to apolitical sway rather than economic decisions being made
Also, have been accused of holding back production to increase global oil prices
Players: Consumers
Create demand
Have some power over oil companies and governments as they opt for other sources
Protest against certain sources
Players: TNCs
TNCs can explore, exploit and distribute energy resources
Own supply lines/energy pathways and provide large investment
Gazprom - Russian state owned oil and gas company which has made political decisions on energy largely political
Gazprom can cut off energy supplies, change prices etc
Nordstream 1 and 2
Energy pathway from Russia to Germany
Germany reliant on them
Disruption to transfer due to explosions rupturing some of the pipes in Nordstream 1
Gazprom halted flows through Nordstream 1 due to political conflcit
Nordstream 2 never opened due to long political opposition by UK, Ukraine, US and eastern Europe
Geopolitical conflict in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia ally of US
Iran ally of Russia
Both large producers and exporters of global oil
US and Russia helping Syria - US rebels, Russia Syrian government - supply of gas uncertain as two pipelines proposed
One through Iran which Russia liked as they have control over Iran so control more energy pathways and global supply
