Carbon Cycle EQ2 Flashcards
1
Q
Energy mix
A
- No country relies on one single energy source
- Primary and secondary sources are those which are consumed in their raw form. It includes fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable sources
- Domestic and overseas sources are relied on in many countries
- Due to declining domestic North Sea oil and gas reserves, the UK is becoming increasingly dependent on overseas sources. Because the UK imports more energy than it produces domestically, it has an energy deficit and is energy insecure
2
Q
Energy security
A
This means being able to access reliable and affordable sources of energy. These may be domestic, but could also include energy sources from ‘friendly’ countries
3
Q
Consumption of energy resources depends on a number of factors
A
- Physical availability
- Technology: modern technology can help in the exploitation of energy resources
- Costs
- Economic development: The same energy costs may be perceived as expensive in one country but acceptable in another
- Climate: extreme climates (very hot or cold) may need extra energy to make the extreme temperatures more comfortable to live in
- Environmental priorities
4
Q
Energy pathway
A
The route taken by any form of energy from it’s source to it’s point of consumption
5
Q
Energy mix comparison (UK vs Norway)- UK
A
- Physical availability: nuclear technology lost momentum after the discovery of the North Sea oil and gas reserves, which have decreased in supply considerably
- Cost: North Sea oil is expensive to extract, especially due to decreasing supply, causing the UK to import more
- Technology: There are 150 years worth of oil reserved in the UK, but lack of technology prevents the extraction
- Political considerations: The increasing reliance on imported energy in the UK is causing energy insecurity, however public concern over fracking and nuclear energy prevents total exploitation from being adopted. The privatisation of UK’s energy supplies in the 1980s means overseas companies decide which energy sources meet the UK’s demand as well as pricing
- Environmental priorities: In 2015, UK committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gases by 2030 compared to 1990. It intends to broaden it’s energy mix with nuclear and renewable sources
6
Q
Energy mix comparison (UK vs Norway)- Norway
A
- Physical availability: Norway is mountainous, with steep valleys, meaning HEP is a natural energy choice. There is also a steady supply of coal from Svalbard
- Cost: HEP provides 97.5% of Norway’s renewable energy. HEP costs are low once capital investment is complete. However, costs for transportation of electricity from HEP in remote regions to urban areas can be expensive
- Technology: Deepwater drilling was allowed the exploitation of oil reserves in the North Sea
- Political considerations: Norwegian government prevents foreigners companies from owning any primary energy source (increases energy security). Taxes paid to the government from the sale of fossil fuels are used to boost standard of living, as well as funding a sovereign wealth fund to prepare for a future without fossil fuels
- Environmental priorities: In 2015, Norway committed to a reduction in domestic greenhouse emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to levels in 1990. Norway is the third largest exporter of hydrocarbons (profits can be used to import energy sources with higher energy return on investment (EROI). They launched a ‘policy for change’ in 2016 which involved aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050
7
Q
Changes in energy mix between 1980 and 2015 (UK)
A
- Reduction in oil (38% to 32.5%)
- Growth in gas (19% to 40%)
- Reduction in coal (34% to 15%)
- Growth in nuclear energy (6% to 9%)
8
Q
Change in energy mix between 1980 and 2015 (Norway)
A
- Reduction in oil (51% to 33%)
- Growth in gas (0% to 20%)
- Reduction in coal (6.5% to 1%)
9
Q
Unconventional fossils fuels
A
- Tar sands
- Oil shale
- Shale gas
- Deepwater oil
10
Q
Deepwater oil
A
- Deepwater oil can make up a large proportion of energy demands. An example is in the Gulf of Mexico, where 200,000 barrels of oil are produced per day
- There is minimal environmental damage as the rigs are located quite far offshore, so no scarring or land degradation is required
- The possibility of an oil spill is possible for example the Deepwater horizon oil spill in 2010, which had a large impact on wildlife in the area through pollution of the ocean
- Transportation of the oil from the rigs to mainland can be inefficient and expensive especially if poor weather conditions or damage to pipelines occurs
11
Q
Shale gas
A
- There are more supplies of unconventional reserves than conventional. There are 48 major shale gas basins in 32 countries
- It increases the energy reserves of a country and reduced the need for imports. An example is in the US, whereby shale gas provided 25% of their total gas supply and overtook coal as the main generator of electricity
- Shale gas extraction releases methane into the atmosphere, which it a stronger greenhouse gas per molecule than CO2. 4-8% of shale gas is emitted into the atmosphere during the extraction process, which is 40-50% more than in conventional wells
- Fracking chemicals can enter the water table as fracking usually occurs beneath aquifers. Research shows there is a correlation between distance from nearest gas well, and gas concentration in drinking water
12
Q
Oil shale
A
- Oil shale can be sold for profits that can then be used to boost the economy e.g Norway with their sovereign wealth fund, or to import energy resources that have a higher EROI
- Oil shale is a reliable source of energy for energy security (USA has 77% of known oil shale reserves)
- Scarring of the landscape to access to the oil shale and degradation of biodiversity
- It is very energy intensive to extract and process the material. 2 barrels of water is required to produce 1 barrel of oil
13
Q
Tar sands
A
- Tar sands produce 40% of Canada’s total oil output
- It is generally less environmentally damaging than other unconventional methods
- Since 2015, the fall in the global price of oil has had a large impact on the tar sand industry especially because extracting bitumen is relatively expensive
14
Q
Biofuels
A
A fuel derived immediately from living matter
15
Q
Biofuels in Brazil
A
- Brazil is one of the largest producers of ethanol from sugar cane
- The bio-refineries produce the equivalent to 930,000 barrels per day, which produces 16% of domestic energy supply. 1.34 million direct jobs have been created from this industry
- Sugar cane produces 8 to 10 times more energy than it takes to produce it, as well as reduced greenhouse emissions by 90%
