Carbon 6.4

Question 1

energy security

Answer 1

the extent to which a country experiences uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price

Question 2

long term security

Answer 2

country’s ability to ensure investments are made to supply energy in line with economic developments

Question 3

short term security

Answer 3

ability to react promptly to sudden changes in balance between energy demand and supply (e.g., Dinorwig Electric Mountain, north wales hydro)

Question 4

energy mix

Answer 4

the proportion of each primary energy resource used in a year for a particular country

Question 5

primary energy

Answer 5

– natural resources that have not been converted into another form of energy (e.g. coal, oil, uranium)

Question 6

secondary energy

Answer 6

– what the primary source has been converted into (electricity or use of petrol to power vehicles)

Question 7

Factors that affect the energy mix and the energy security of a country:

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

developing countries energy mix - Malawi

-energy uses

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

Emerging countries energy mix – India and China

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

Developed countries energy mix

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - physical availability

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - cost

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - technology

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - political considerations

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - level of economic development

Answer 15

GDP per capita = $41,200

• energy use per capita= 2752kg oil
• average annual household energy costs =£1300

Question 16

Factors affecting energy consumption in the UK - environmental priorities

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - physical availability

Answer 17

• due to mountainous with steep valleys and rainfall – HEP is natural energy choice
• Norway exports most of its oil and natural gas

Question 18

Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - cost

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - technology

Answer 19

-Deepwater drilling technology enabled both Norway and the UK to develop North Sea oil and gas extraction

Question 20

Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - political considerations

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - level of economic development

Answer 21

GDP per capita = $61,500

• Energy use per capita = 5854kg
• average annual household energy costs =£2400

Question 22

Factors affecting energy consumption in the Norway - environmental priorities

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

main energy players

Answer 23

• Privately owned TNC’s
• Consumers
• Scientists and engineers
• State owned TNC’s
• Environmental groups
• Governments

Question 24

role of energy tncs

Answer 24

• 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

Question 25

examples of energy tncs

Answer 25

• Old players – BP (UK), Shell (UK and Norway)

- New players – Petrobras (Brazil)

Question 26

opec role

Answer 26

• 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

Question 27

what is opec

Answer 27

• Organisation of petroleum exporting countries

- A permanent IGO

Question 28

who are members of opec

Answer 28

• 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

Question 29

examples of opecs role

Answer 29

• 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

Question 30

national governments role

Answer 30

• 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

Question 31

examples of national governments involvement in energy

Answer 31

• 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

Question 32

consumers role

Answer 32

• Create demand
• Purchasing choices are often based on price and cost issues – petrol prices can be keenly competitive between supermarkets

Question 33

Factors affecting consumer attitudes:

Answer 33

• 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

Question 34

What are the main issues that energy players need to address currently and into the future?

Answer 34

-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.