Carbon 6.4 Flashcards
energy security
the extent to which a country experiences uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price
long term security
country’s ability to ensure investments are made to supply energy in line with economic developments
short term security
ability to react promptly to sudden changes in balance between energy demand and supply (e.g., Dinorwig Electric Mountain, north wales hydro)
energy mix
the proportion of each primary energy resource used in a year for a particular country
primary energy
– natural resources that have not been converted into another form of energy (e.g. coal, oil, uranium)
secondary energy
– what the primary source has been converted into (electricity or use of petrol to power vehicles)
Factors that affect the energy mix and the energy security of a country:
- Availability of primary energy resources and technology to use them
- Relative cost of each type
- Changes in needs
- National and regional policies affecting energy production and consumption
- Economic development affects energy mix
- Cultural and historical legacies regarding energy use - USA
- Real or perceived energy needs of the country (lifestyles, climate, development, industry) – Iceland
- Accessibility of sources from outside the country
developing countries energy mix - Malawi
-energy uses
- Biomass (mainly fuel wood)
- Gas and oil
- Other sources
- Coal
- Cheap and abundant resource
- Developing countries mainly rely on natural sources like fuel wood
- In Malawi, 99% of households use fuelwood as their energy
- There are no national grid connections
- This contributes to 2.5% of the deforestation rate
- Mainly use it for cooking due to low development – rural dwellers
Emerging countries energy mix – India and China
- Emerging countries with coal will heavily rely on this as it is the cheapest to fuel economic growth
- Abundant source
- China and India are both investing in renewables, but coal is their main source
Developed countries energy mix
- Some developed countries will have policies committed to reducing fossil fuel reliance and are investing in renewables – following the Paris agreement in 2015
- Norway, UK, Germany, the EU
Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - physical availability
- before 1970s – depended on domestic coal from Yorkshire, South wales
- it was a global leader in nuclear tech between 50s and 70s
- 1970s – discovery of large reserves of North Sea oil and gas which altered the UK’s energy mix
Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - cost
- North Sea reserves were a secure alternative to being dependant on Middle Eastern oil
- early 1970s – Middle Eastern oil prices rose
- North Sea is expensive to extract – so when global oil prices fall, it becomes less viable (occurred in 97-98 and 14-15)
- North Sea stocks are declining, forcing UK to import more
Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - technology
- 150 yrs of coal left in UK
- current tech and environmental policy makes it expensive to extract
- UK’s lost coal mine closed in 2015
- 80% of energy still came from fossil fuels
- technology exists for clean coal but coal has lost its political support
Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - political considerations
- reliance on imported energy has impacted energy security and is a political issue
- public concern over fracking and nuclear sites
- 1980s – UK privatised energy supply industry – means that overseas companies decide which energy sources are used to meet UK demand
Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - level of economic development
GDP per capita = $41,200
- energy use per capita= 2752kg oil
- average annual household energy costs =£1300
Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - environmental priorities
- 2015 – the UK committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to 1990 levels
- intends to broaden energy mix – more renewable and more nuclear
- UK abandoned green deal in 2015
Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - physical availability
- due to mountainous with steep valleys and rainfall – HEP is natural energy choice
- Norway exports most of its oil and natural gas
Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - cost
- Norsk Hydro run over 600 HEP sites which supply 97.5% of renewable electricity
- HEP costs are low once investment is complete
- transfer of electricity from HEP in remote regions to cities and isolated settlements is expensive
Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - technology
-Deepwater drilling technology enabled both Norway and the UK to develop North Sea oil and gas extraction
Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - political considerations
HEP has been used since 1907
- government has an interventionist approach – prevents foreign companies from owning any energy sources
- royalties and taxes paid into the government from the sale of fossil fuels boost the standard of living through government spending – profits also go to sovereign wealth fund to prepare for a future without fossil fuels and for renewable tech in future
Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - level of economic development
GDP per capita = $61,500
- Energy use per capita = 5854kg
- average annual household energy costs =£2400
Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - environmental priorities
- 2015 –committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to 1990 levels
- third largest exporter of hydrocarbons and is expanding its output
- policy for change – carbon neutral by 2050
main energy players
- Privately owned TNC’s
- Consumers
- Scientists and engineers
- State owned TNC’s
- Environmental groups
- Governments
role of energy tncs
- TNC’s explore, exploit and distribute energy resources
- They own supply lines and invest in distribution and the processing of raw materials, as well as electricity production and transmission
- They respond to market conditions to secure profits for their shareholders
examples of energy tncs
- Old players – BP (UK), Shell (UK and Norway)
- New players – Petrobras (Brazil)
opec role
- Mission is to co-ordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its members, to ensure the stabilisation of oil markets in order to secure:
- An efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers
- A steady income for producers
- A fair return for those investing in the industry
what is opec
- Organisation of petroleum exporting countries
- A permanent IGO
who are members of opec
- Oil producing and exporting countries
- E.g. Saudi Arabia – where oil is the main exporter and therefore is vital for their social and economic development and well-being
- OPEC producers control 81% of proven world oil reserves
examples of opecs role
- OPEC have set oil production quotas to respond to economic conditions – boosting supplies when demand rose and reducing them when demand fell
- From 2012 – 2016 - maintain output at high levels kept oil prices low – possibly to compete with the USA’s increased oil production from fracking – this caused a collapse in global oil prices
national governments role
- To meet international obligations, whilst securing energy supplies for the nation’s present and future, as well as supporting the country’s economic growth
- Regulating the role of private companies and setting environmental priorities
examples of national governments involvement in energy
- EDF (France) and China General Nuclear – government backed energy TNC’s involved in developing new nuclear power plants in the UK
- EU governments aim to fulfil CO2 emissions targets and reduce fossil fuel dependency
consumers role
- Create demand
- Purchasing choices are often based on price and cost issues – petrol prices can be keenly competitive between supermarkets
Factors affecting consumer attitudes:
- New trends and views on the environment – consumers have some power over oil companies
- E.g., by purchasing electric cars, or installing solar panels to cut home energy costs
- Until 2015 – most solar panels and wind farms in the EU and the UK were only installed because of the large investment’s subsidies on offer
- The expansion of nuclear energy as well as the extraction of oil and gas by fracking is controversial in the EU and the UK – widespread protests against both
What are the main issues that energy players need to address currently and into the future?
-The UN predicts that the world population could increase to 10 billion by 2050.
-Even as billions of people are added people expect an improved quality of life, often this leads to an increase in energy use.
-3 main issues:
o Energy security-ensuring that present and future demands are met.
o Energy equity-accessible and affordable energy for all.
o Environmental Sustainability- ensuring efficient use of energy and renewable sources reducing pollution and moving towards lower greenhouse gas emissions.
